f> /.I % u/i-l '4 Libra] ^' NSt :9^^ ^^ tut lUwlojrta/ ^ ^/(»i PRINCETON, N. J. %. ^^ Division Section SOS \ THE scourge: I N VINDICATION O F T H E '^^^^li}-^!^, CHURCH o^ ENGLAND. To which are added, I. The Danger of the Church-Establishment oi England^ from the Infolence of Protestant Dissenters. Occafion'd by a Prefentment of the ' Forty SecofidFsiipcv of the Scourge at xhc King's Bench Bar^ by the Grand Jury of the Hundred olOJfulfton, II. The ANATOMY of the Heretical Synod of Dissenters at Saltcrs-Hall. bTtAI LONDON: Printed in the Year M.,dcc. rs. Price Six -Shilling}. T O POSTERITX. HIS Volume hears the lively Image of the lewd. Times wherein it was writ J and conjecjuently is not for the 'Palate of the prefent Age. To you therefore, Gentlemen of thefollowing Generation, I have made choice to addrefs my felf and my Matters ; not as if the World were likely to mend, or the People that come after us to be one jot wifer, jujier,, ho- nejier, or better natur'd than ■thofe that went before ; but all Paffions To Posterity. ^ajftons Jleep in the Grave, and tts there^s no 'Place for Knvy, Partiality, or Impoflure on the one hand, Jo there's as little room for corrupt Interefi, mercenary Dejign, or fervile Flattery on the other. The C I 3 THE INTRODUCTION. O recommend li Paper to the publick Favour, it is ufual hrft to give an Ac- count of its Defign, and what is intend- ed by the Continuance of it > I hum- bly defirc therefore it might be ob- ferv'd, that the Inducement which encourag'd the Author to appear inthismanner, was the kind Ac- ceptance fuch fhort Entertainments have generally met with fi*om the World, which gave him occa- fion to hope that if political Eflays in Defence of the State, and Speculations intended only to coireft fome little Follies of the Age, w^ere fo univcrfally received, this way of "-jindicating the Doctrine and Difcipline of the Church of England, and the Cha^ raBers and Pr hi leges of her Clergy, will find a fuitable Regard from all who are real Friends to our Eftablifhment, and are imwilling to fee extinguifh'd thofe Remains of Piety that are yet among us. Is there not Provocation fuSicient to enter the Lifts, and by /Argument encounter the w^hole Legion of Scdarifts that appear with the moft open Inlb- B lence, ^ The INTRODUCTION. lence, and by their Writings affront us in themoft formidable manner ? W hen the veiy Foundations of our Church arc difputed, and Diflenters of all forts feem to triumph, as if our Eftabhlhment were juii: expiring : What is it that occafions that RemiiTnefsy that Spirit of Indifference in the Church o^ England^ that fhe appears fo perfeftly unconcerned, and lies without Reply under thofe Loads of Scandal, Re- proach and Refl[e6tion that arc daily thrown upoa her ? It cannot be becaufe fhe wants the Arm of the Civil Powei*, or is not protefted by the SovereigUy who has facredly promifed to be the Defender of her Faith, her Doctrine, and Difcipline j who has na way improv'd the Profpefts our Enemies feem to form from the pi-efent Government, which has only engaged they ihall have Leave to fei*ve God in their own Way, and live quietly under the Defence of the Laws. But let them not en- croach upon iis> are not we eftablifh'd ? Have we not the Royal Word and Praftice for our Se- curity and Example ? Encouragements truly pious, and may they eternally be our Glory and Defence. If the Favourites of the Church exprefs'd half the Induftry for her Support, as her Enemies the Diflenters fhew toaccomphih her Ruin, fhe would have no occafion for Vindications of this nature. Have we not more Argument, more Authority, more Antiquity of our lide ? Are we not the Glo- ry, the Bulwark of the Reformation ? Let us then infill upon our Privileges, and by the force of Reafon convince theic Gainfayers, that iioe are not ignorant of their De-vices^ that we are neither afham'd nor afraid to afTcrt the Honour of our Eccleiiallical Conftitution, and then let the impartial World judge between us, when they perufc our feveral Pretences and the Nature of our Claims. Could we but once fcparatc a DiiTcnter from his Interell:, and prevail upon r/&^ INTRODUCTION. 3 upon him rerioufly to fubmit to Reafon, to examine what we have to Hiy, without Prejudice, and lay ' himfelf under a Poflibility of being convinced, I am confident our Divifions would loon abate, and the Separation be quickly at an end. I profefs, I had always the moft Chriftian Com- panion for thole deluded People, who are ignorantly led allray by the liibtleApplication of their Teachers, Men who feem to lie in wait to deceive -, But I can afTure them the moll zealous of their Leaders know better things j They will confefs, when they dare, that they have more in Profpeft than the Salvation and Happinefs of their Followers 5 that our Church has nothing fiightful, nothing of Popery or Super- ilition belonging to her, and that our Liturgy is a primitive, a rational, a manly Sendee j and were the Eyes of thermoll violent Diflcnter perfe6tly open'd and made acquainted out of what Views their Preachers foment Divifions in the Church, with what Art and Sophiflry they impofe upon the Con- fciences of the People, did he know what difmal Effc6bs have always been the Confequences of their Doctrines, he would blefs the happy Means which redeemed him from his Mill of Ignorance, and enter into our Church with Zeal, Joy and Satisfaction. The Defign of this EfTay is to contribute, if pof^ fiblc, to thefe happy Purpoles, at leafl to prevent the falling away of any more of our Communion into thofe feparate AfTemblies. I fhall obfei^e a Chriflian Spirit aiid Temper through the whole courfe of this Undertaking, and offer nothing to the Publick, but what is atteitcd by the mofl allowable Authority > I fhall not any way take notice of the Affairs of State, or the Proceedings of the Government, becaufe I always thought the Duty of a Chriflian was to obey the Supreme Powers, and not to trouble himfelf about the Sufficiency of their Titles, my Province B i being 4 r/&^ INTRODUCTION. being limited to the Defence of the Church and Clergy^ and toexpofe the Frauds, thcPoHcies^ and the Intrigues of their Enemies. Whoever therefore favours me with Encou- ragement fliall be always fure of an Entertainment upon one of thcfe Subjects j and if any Gentleman will honour me with his Correfpondence upon this pccafion, or will communicate any Information that will be proper toiiiiei't^ it fliall be recommended to the World with all poilible Advantage^ and the Fa- your {hall be acknowledged with Gratitude. . I can hardly exped that any of the Dilfenting Party will at firft .t-ake, notice of this Paper, but as they intermix publickly in Converiation , it may fometimes fall into their Hands, and perhaps may •prevail upon fome of the moll ingenuous among them to perufc it with that charitable Regard, as will put them within the Power of Argument and Con- viftion 5 but however of this Ufe it will be, that when a Coffee-Room is infefted by any noify igno- rant Separatift, who impudently rails at every thing lacred, or faucily harangues with the moll enve- nomed Refleftions upon our Clergy^ or any Branch of pur Church Eftablifhment, there will be a Scourge always at hand to chailife the Reprobate > and in .'Difputes among private Company, who are not fo well able either to defend the DifcipUnc of the Church, or to difcover the Sophiiliy and Malice of her Enemies, in a ihort time, by encouraging of this Deiigii, they may be fure to have a Magazine of Arguments, whereby they may not only aft upon •thcdefcnfive, but be able toi^'ovokej to challenge the Advcrfiuy. ■ Th Num. I. 5a^^E®B^i5Ussssff-si^i^^^'=^s^'«i■'«^s^^iSws«& THE SCOURGE. I N VINDICATION O F T H E Church oi ENGLAND, &c. M.o^T) \Y February 4. 1717. fVho canftretchforth his hand ^gainfi the Lord s Anointed ^W^^ guiklefs ? i Sam. xxvi. 9. H E Murder of King CHARLES the Fii-ft, is a Tranraclion of fuch a Figure in Hiftoiy, as will for ever be a Stain upon the Englijlj Nation, and dcri\'c a Blemijh upon us to rcmotcfi Ages : How hardly will Pojierity be induced to be- lieve that a Generation of Men, could fo far ex- ' B J ' ' tingiiiHi ^ T I 6 r;&^ SCOURGE. Num.i. tinguiflithc umvci-fA Light of Nature (which pro- nounces an inviolable Sandlity upon the Perfons of Kings) and prollitute Religion in fo audacious a Manner, as to waih xhcix profane Hands in the Blood of their Sovereign^ and in the Face of the Sun expofe the headlefs Monarch to the Rabble, and e^^cn di- llurb the Body after Interment : So that the Royal Sepulchre (if he had any) remains undifcover'd to this Day. Horrible furely muft be the Degeneracy and Impudence of an Age, that could perpetrate fuch a Prodigy of Villayiy^ under the Shadow of yufiice and Religion^ and think they were doing God Service, when they were 7nurdering his Anoin^ ted! Condemned may they for ever be in the An- nals of the World, and branded with an eternal Mark of Infamy and Reproach ! May the memo^ rable Day coniinMt f acred in the Kalendar of the Churchy as a perpetual Monument of Hypocrify and Atbeiftn^ want of Principle^ and popular Fury 5 and may the Wifdom of the State encourage the Vene- ration that belongs to it, as a (landing Security to Crown* d'Heads^ and a conjlant Guard to the Maje- ily of Princes. Happy would it be for the People of England^ if the Shame that attends that trcafonable A6t *would be accepted by Heaven as an Atonement \ but wx juftly fear there is a Portion of divine Ven- geance unpoured out, and that the Guilt is yetun- expiated ! The Prejbyterian muft certainly be ap- prehenfive of this, when he labours fo hard ta vindicate himfelf from a6ting a part in the Tra- gedy, and would willingly ihfft the Sin at the Door of the Independent 5 but in Cafes of Mur- der the Accejfory becomes a Principal^ and there- fore we may fairly pronounce them both equally guilty'^ My Soul^ come not thou into their Secret^ for in their Anger they flew a Man I Cur fed he their Jnger^ Num. t . The SCO U RG E. j Anger ^ for it was fierce^ and their Wrath^ for it ijjas cruel. Whoever confults the melancholy Records of thofe licentious Times^ will find the Prcfhyterian drew up the Curtain, appeared firll: upon the Stage, and under a Pretence of Reformation and a Purer Light, involved the State in Darkncfs and Confufion : 'Twas he that iirft funk the Dig->- nity of his Sovereign^ ftrip'd him of his Majefty^ and left his Perfon defencelefs and iinguarded! 'Twas he that poifoo'd the Loyalty of the Peo- fk^ fomented the Spirit of Fii6bion in the City^ encouraged the Out-cries of the Multitude, and led the impudent Rabble to the Gates of the Royal Palace it felf ! 'Twas he that fold his King^ voted him a Prifoner, perfuaded him to Perjury, and to abohfh Epifcopacy^ that he was t)ound by Oath to defend !' Twas he that feiz'd the Patrimony of the Churchy and the Revenues of the Cro'ujn^ de- livered Treafon by Infpiration^ made a mock of Sin^ and for fear of Superfiition^ became guilty of Sa^ crilege ! Who can ever aflert the Loyalty o^ uPref-' byterian after fuch a black Catalogue of Fa^ion and Difobedience ? Who will ever beUeve him ftn^ cere in his AddrefTes to Heaven^ when fuch amar 2:ing Wickednefs was carried on under the folemn ProfefHons o^ Piety ^nd Confcie nee ? Who can ac- quit him of the Guilt of this innocent Bloody when he impioufly deftroy'd his Prince in his political Capacity^ and diverted him of the fundamental Supports of his Throne, which would have been a Defence againft the Fiuy of feditious Spirits^ and Drotefted him from the Madnefs of the People ? In fhort, the Independent finirti'd what the Pref- byterian began > the firft^ I confefs, cut off the Head q£ CHARLES S fUA R r, when^ the B ^ Qti^^r 8 ne SCOVKG^. Num. r. ether (to ufe their own wicked DiJlin6lion) had be- fore murdefd the King. A Diftin6bion certainly infpir'd by the great Fa-- iher of Rebellion^ thus to divide the perfonal and political Capacity^ to profefs a Tendernefs for the Safety of the King, and at the fame time difcharge Artillery againil him, as if it was a Duty to de- llroy the Man to preferve the Prince ! I have often endeavour'd to believe that it was not at firfl the Defign of the Faction to carry things to thofe fatal Extremities that foilow'dj but when they had broken through the Inclofures of the Church, and let the ivild Boar into the Vineyard^ it is no wonder that the Beafi lay about him fo furioufly, made fuch havock of Decency and Order^ and confounded all things Ci'vil and Sacred. The leail: Encroachment upon Holy Ground^ the leaft Rupture in the floly Eftablifh- ment, is a fenfible Wound to Religion and the Safety of the State^ and opens a Scene of endlefs Ruin and Defolation: For when a Man breaks the Communion^ and leaps out of the Fold of the Churchy , 'tis a chance but he bids adieu to that Principle^ which preferv'd his Loyalty to his Prince^ as well as Piety to his God-^ and is in Danger of becoming a Traitor to the State, and an Jitheift in Religion, But w^hatever might be the View of the Pref- ^^^fri^» in improving the Misfortunes of his Coun- try, I am at a lofs to know the Caufe of his re- folv'd Averfionto Peace -y why he retir'd from the moft fubmifHve Condefcenfions of his Sovereign, us'd him with the moft irreconcileable Infolence, ^and treated him with all the Pyide and Pertnefs imaginable 5 why his Acts of Grace were always molt barbaroufly abus'd j he was never let alone 'till he had parted with ^//j had almoll facrific'd his NUM.T. The SCOURGE. 9 his Honour and his Confcience^ was pelted with Ordinances and Remonftrances^ defam'd with Libehy affronted with 'Tumults^ and hunted as a Patridge upon the Mountains.^ unlefs they had refolv'd to fulfil their Promife^ and in the J'ublimejl Senfe, to make the Martyr a moft Glorious King. I confefs, the AJfemhly of Di'vines protefled with Refentment, their Abhorrence of that Mockery of Jufiice^ and endeavour'd in a very folemn Manner, to wafh their Hands of the Guilt j but their Con- cern, we imagine, proceeded more from their Spleen againfl the Aclors, (who had forc'd the Reins of Power out of their Hands) than from a Detejiation of the Villany -^ and we have the great- eft reafon to believe, they ftill lov'd the 'Treafouy tho' they hated the Tray tors. It would perhaps be a veiy hold Advance to fay, that the Principles of a Prefhyterian are abfolutely incompatible with the Conftitution of the Englijh State J but whoever looks into the Original of a Puritan^ will find his Notions more properly fuitcd to a popular Adminiftration, than with the Scheme of Government in this Kingdom : Bcfides, he ab- folutely denies the Supremacy of the King in the Affairs of the Churchy will take upon him to pu- nifh him with Ecclefiaftical Ccnfures, and can for the leaft Mifmanagement, deliver the Monarch over to Satan to he hujfeted. The greatcft Honour the Prefbytery can beftow upon the Sovereign is, to dignify him with the formal Office of a Lay- Elder^ which the meanefb Mechanic in the King- dom may be equally capable to difcharge. But the Church of England is fmcere, loyal, uniform, and generous in her Obedience •, fhe h;is a juft and flicrcd Efteem for Majcfly, and difowns thgfe wild and pernicious Opinions which cramp the Dignity and the Prerogative of Kings. And were TO T^e SCOVKCE. Num.i. •were I worthy to lay before a Prince a Method of Policy^ that would be a perpetual Ornament to his Crowfiy and eftablifh his Tyrone under him : This Englijh Church is what, upon the pure fcore of Loyalty^ I mult in Confcience^ with Humility recommend to him, it being impoflible for one, who has a religious Regard for her Doctrine and Communion^ ever to renounce his Suhje^ion^ or be-* ■come a Rebel to his Prince. MoNPAY KuM. 2. The S COURGE. ^ri Monday February ii. 1717. I be fee ch yoUj Brethren^ mark them which caufe Divifions ^W Offences contrary to the 'Do- Brines which ye have learned^ and avoid them. For they that arefiich^ ferve not our Lord Jefus Chrift, but their own Belly, and by good Words, andid\t Speeches, deceive the Hearts of the fimple ; Rom. xvi. 17, 18, HO EVER enquires into the State of the Church from its Original, will find that eveiy Age has, in Ibme mea- fure, been infeftcd with Schifmaticks and Impoftors ; but perhaps none ever afforded fuch Swarms of Seducers as our unhappy Days J in which like the Flies of Egypt ^ they ai-e ilili buzzing in the Ears of the People, and like the Frogs ^ croaking in all the Cornei-s of the Land. The Church o^ Romeh^ been the conftant Nur- fery of thefe Caterpillars y and tho' they are always railing againft Popery^ and like ungodly Children, curfing their Mother that bore them j yet they exaftly tranfcribe the Principles and Example of the Jcfuit^ who has not more Artifice to palHate the Frauds of the infallibk Chair ^ than thofe Men make ufc of to difguife the Errors of their Con- ic nticle. Can we avoid obferving in how many Drefles, and various Shapes thofe Sons of Craft appear in, to f over their I^efigns, and to delude the ignorant N with ■12 The S COURGE. Num. z. with the moft Sanctimonious Pretences ? Have they not for a long time put a Glofs upon their Adions, by making Rehgion a Pandar to the grcateft Sins ? Do they not impofe upon the Weakneis of fome, the W ilfulnefs of others, and the Difcon- tents of all j and hke fpiritual Mountebanks^ cry up their infallible Medicines, their Soul-faving^ Heart-purging DoUrines ? They fufficiently know how to work upon the Giddinefs and Inftability of the Vulgar (who are govern'd more by their Paffions than their Rcafon) and to lead captive Jilly IVomen laden with their Lufts. But alas! the Cloak that hath been fo veij ferviceable, begins now to be worn out 5 long Ufe and frequent Bruih- ing has made it threadbare, and the Hypocrify appears through the Thinnefs of the Covering ; fuch is the Inconfiflency of Falfhood, it mufl be- tray it felf in the End > and when the Paint an4 Varnifh are gone, nothing appears but the De- formity y and the Hypocrite, like the ftrip'd Afs in the Fable, becomes an Objed of Scorn and Ri- dicule. 7'he following LETTER (which is the firft I re^ ceiv'd fince the Publication of this EJfay) needs no apology to recommend it to the JVorld. Sir, 4 ly yTY Curio jfity led me fome time ago into a X Vx ' Prefbyterian AJfembly 5 and if you pleafe, ' you may communicate my Remarks, and allow ' them a Place in your Paper. * You muft know then that I was detained for ^ fome time at the Entrance, for I could not for- ' bear flopping at the Door, which I found almpll ^ covered with Titles of Books palled over it. ^ « The Num. 2. Ty^^ SCOURGE. r^ ^ The firfl that I caft my Eye upon "was, Self^ Dedication^ Perfonal and Sacramental^ which without doubt, is a very excellent and intelligible Piece of Divinity, as the Title plainly and figni- ficantly fets forth > I perceived it had bore feveral Impreffions, and met with fuitable Encourage- ment. The next was, fhe Soul funk in his Cafcy or a Comfort for the Backflider^ with an Inllance of a Man, who had gone backwards like a Crab for a long time, and only by making ufe of a Specifick, in the Book dcliver'd at length, be- came as upright and 2& forward as any Perlon in the whole World: \_Enquire at Pinner's-Hall and knoixj farther. ] At the end of this, by way of Ap- plication, were added, — ~ T'he comfortable and godly Sayings of a Female Child about thirteen Tears old J as it fpoke them it felf^ and deli'veredthemto its own Mother 'y which without doubt were wonderfully wife and improving. There were many more difperfed up and down, but ftrangely defaced and obliterated, particularly "the Validity of Prefhyterian Ordination^ which fomebody had ftigmatized with uncommon Refentmeut, in a very opprobrious manner. I thought my felf by this time Efficiently edified without Doors, and ftepping in, found every thing hulh'd, and in a profound Tranquility, only now and then a Volley of Sighs, which were al^vays anfwer'd from one fide of the Room to the other, and feem'd like the difi:ant canonading of two Armies before a Battle. I foon difcover'd the Preacher^ a mighty grave Man, compofed in a Pofture of Devotion, with his Hands lifted up, and his Eyes fix'd upon a great Spider that happen'd to be pinching a Fly upon the Wall oppofite to him : He continu'd fo, 'till the Conqueror had tugg'd the Captive into his Hole, and then he Imote ' upon t4i Tlje SC O URGE. Num. 2. ^ upon his Breall, open'd his Mouth, and (aid, *» Lord - — J^e knowj Lord ^Z?, Lord^ ive ^ do I that thou, Lord/ knoweft, good ^ Lord! that we know nothing — make us afiamed ^ if it be paffible, I thought the Man ^ very fubmiflive in his x^ddrefTes, and obfeiT'd a ' due Diftance^ as well between his Expreflions as ^ between himjelf and the Object of his Worfhip. ' ^ But, beUevc me, he fbon chang'd his Note, %• and I was amaz'd to hear him refolve inftantly to ^ lay violent Hands upon Chrill, to have a wreftling ^ Bout with him, to tumble, to roll, and wallozij ^ upon him, and not let him get up unlels he would ^ yield y and then gives him leave to rife, and hires ^ him to be his Falet, to drefs him and clean him ^ within and without j he commands him to go to ^ the Apothecaries for a Vomit, becaufe his Sto- ^ mach had receiv'd all Uncleannefs with Greedinefs, * ^id not to forget a Box of Pillsto/>^r^^andr^rrj ^ off' the Dregs of his Corruption-, then he tells him ^ he is going a Volunteer in the Service of the King ^ of Kings ', and charges him to get his Sword readv, * and his Buckler, and his Helmet, and particulai ly ^ his Breafi' Plate, to ftand by him when he is en- ' gag'd, to clap him on the Back, to ftop him if he ^ ofters to fly, and to perfuade him, if pofTible, to * look the Enemy in the Face, I could not imagine ' what he was driving at, and concluded there * would be hot Work among them by and by > but ^ in the Conclufion, I perceived he was but in jcft, ' was only cafting a Figure, and defign'd no more * than to fight in a fafe »/^^^^^m>r^/ Way j and he ' condefcended to thofe familiar Terms of Art, on * purpofe to be underftood, and to convey himfelf ' within the Capacities of his People : A fort of Fa- ' miharity that mod fcandaloufly trifles withy^^r^^^ ^ things, and muft of neceflity bring Religion into * Contempt. ' The NuM.2. T)?^^ SCOURGE. i^ ^ The Prayer ending at length, he open'd hi^ Bible, fhuts it again to fhcw them that all was fair, and repeats a Part of the 13 th Verfeof the 7th Chapter oijojhua: Thus faith the Lord God of Ifrael, "There is an accurfed thing in the midfl of thee, thou canfi not fiand before thine Enemies^ until ye take away the accurfed thing from among you. Now this accurfed thing was a goodly Bahy^ lonifh Garment, two hundred Shekels of Siher^ and a ff^edge of Gold of fifty Shekelsy which Achan had fiole and hid in the Earth in the midfl of hi: Tent : I expe61:cd, and I thought with Reafon, that the Subjcft of his Difcourie would have beea concerning the private Sins of fome People, and that he would have invited his Audience to Re^ pentance, in order to avert the impending Ven- geance y but it feems there was a My fiery, and 3 Type in the Words, which, with the greateft Eafe in the World, fell naturally afunder in this man- ner : The accurfed Thing was the Common-Prayer^ the Baby lonifh Garment the Surplice, the Wedge of Gold the Cvofs in Baptifm, and the Shekels of Silver, the confecrated Feffels of the Altar. I had no Patience to hear the Holy Scripture peivertcd in fo profane a manner, but immediately came away in as much hafle as I now fubfcribe my felf. Tour humble Serrianf. * P.S.I had almofl: forgot to acquaint you, that * I chanc'd to have fome Knowledge of three of the ' Congregation J a 'Prentice who had run away ' from his Mafter, a Woman that had eloped from ' her Hufband, and a wicked Wretch who had ' been excommunicated for Blafphemy, The Con^ ^ venticle I obferve is the Sink o£ the Church, and ^ thofe who ai'C rejcfted as the greateft Sinners in ' the 16 r>&^ SCOURGE. Num. 2. * the one, arc recciv'd as the brightci): Saints inthc ^ other. I can hardly approve of the Guriofity of this Gentleman, tho' I perceive he is, in a great mea- furc fortified againil the Poifon of thofc infinuating Seducers : But I would advifc thofe Perfons, who' for the fake of Diverfion will often go into a Dif- fenting Affembly, not wilfully to run into a Snarcy for the Divine Goodnefs is not obliged to prate6t fuch as wantonly foort beyond the Limits of it. A kai'ned Father otthe Church has left us a Stoiy, that may not improperly be tranflated upon this Occafion : ' There was a Woman at Rome^ a Chri- * ftian, "^ho for her Pleailire, went into the Pagan * Theatre, where very loofe and profane Spedacles ^ were fhewn to the People j but before ihe came ^ away, {he was pojfejjed by the Devil j fhe was * brought to the Exorcift (whofe Office was to dif- ^ lodge thofe Spirits) who demanded of the Fiend ' how he durlt prefume to take Pofleflion of a ' Chriftian ? He inllantly reply 'd 5 JVhat Biifinefi ' had JJ^e there? I found her uj> and it is therefore a very fiilfc No- tion, tho' very common, to imagine that the Clerk reprefents fhc whole Congregation, and that he alone is to repeat in his Turn with the Minifler: It is the Duty of eveiy Member of the AfTembly to bear in part their Anfwer as the Clerk does, only it is proper that they do it with an humble^ and he with, a more audible Voice. The Ppfture, when the Pfalms are reheai's'd or fung, fhould be v\\vijs ftanding^ and herein we not only follow the Example of the Jews^ but the original Dire(5Hon of Nature it felf > for there is a veiy ilrong Sym- pathy between our inward Affections and the Ge- Ihires of our Bodies, and we exprefs a joyful Ele^ 'v at ion of the Soul, when we offer our Tribute of Thankfgiving and FxaiCc Jlanding in the Courts of the Lord. THELcffonsffiould always be heard with a de- vout Attention 3 and tho' it be a Matter of Reli- gion with fome to read the Leffon fllently with the Minifter, yet in my Opinion it is a Degree of Zeal without Knowledge^ bccaufe it is generally no, more than a Lip-labour > it hinders thofe pious Meditations and Remarks which the Subjeft of the Leffon may fuggeil, and makes it become no more than a dead Letter. The ConfefHon of Faith in the Apoffles Creed is to be made by the u'/'^?/^ Congregation, the Peo- ple, every one in his own Perfon, repeating it after the Minifter. And for this Reafon, let no one ima- gine, that if the Minifler recites the Creed, and he fays Amen at the Clofe, he has done his Duty j becaufe it is not fufficient for a Chriftian to believe with his Heart, unlefs he confejjh with his Lips, and calls upon others to be pubUck Witneffes and Profeffors of his Faith. At the Rcheaifal of all C i the :>o The SCO URGE. Num. 3. the Creeds^ our Bodies fliould hcftanding^ tointi- itiate our Refolutioli to ft and by and defend that Faith we are profeiling > and our Faces looking to- wards the Altar, as the moft honourable Place in the Church, the Chair of State, and the Throne of God. And here I mufl not forget the primitive Cuflom among Chriflians of Bowing at the Name of Jefus^ Which^ tho' it be not commanded by the Rubrick, yet ib pbfltively enjoyn'd by the 1 8th Canon of our Church. ' Wlfien in the Time of ' Divine Service the Lord ^^T^j fhall be mentioned, * due and lowly Reverence fhall be done by all Per- ^ fons prefent." Let not our Sep^ratifts charge us with Idolatiy in this^ for we follow the exprefi Words of Scripture, which dire6ts that at the Name of Jc^uS every Kneefha'll h'w, and our Church gives this vcly excellent Reafon for it > ' Becaufe ^ we teftify by this outward Ceremony and Ge- * fture, our due Acknowledgment that the Lord * Je/us Chrifl^ the true and only Son of God, is ' the only Saviour of the World j in whom alone * all the Mercies, Graces and Promifes of God ta ^ Mankind for this Life^ and the Life to come, ai*e ^ ftilly compris'd. The three ihort Sentences that follow the Apo- ftles O'eed^ are addrefs'd to the Three Perfons in the Holy Trinity ; and for that Reafon let the Clerk of the Congregation by no means repeat a fecond time, Lord^ have Mercy upon us^ which is in effe<5t to make the Trinity confifl o^ few .Perfons. The fecond Veife onlyistobeanfwer'd by the Peo- ple, the firft and laft belonging to the Minifter. The Cuilom of repeating the Prayers after the Miniftcr is too common in our Congregations, and is a very great DifTervice to the Worfhipper, as well as Diforder to the W oHhip j but it is abundantly more prcpofterous to repeat the Prayers, and to fay Jmen- Num. 5. r/6^ SCOURGE. it Amen to them : This is inexcufablc Ignorance in the People, who by this means are guilty of t^/« Repetitions^ and with gi;cat Impmdencc make An- fwcr to themfekes. The Bkjfing that is pronounced at the end of the Service by the Prieft or the Bifiep^ was fb highly valu'd in the primitive Times of our Reli- gion, that none durit go out of the Church \i\\ they had receiv'd it : The Congregation always re- ceived the BleJJing upon their Knees, or with their Heads bowing down j and I wifli that all who pro- it^^ any Regai'd for our Communion would copy after this devout Praftiee of Antiquity, and pre- vent, if poflible, that Huriy and Difturbance that generally are in our Churches after the Conclufion of the Sermon. The Prieji has Authority from Heaven to hlefs xhz Pepple, and upon the Sons of Peace fhall his BlefUng reft ^ but from fuch as pre^ vent it by their Sins or Infidelity, fhall his Blelling return to him again. And here 1 cannot forbear wondering at the amazing Boldnefs of thofe Se6larifts^ who have the Afiurance to afperfe our excellent Liturgy^ not confidering how they provoke Authority in a very outrageous Manner, and very openly cxpofe them- felves to the Notice of the Laws) for the A& o£ Uniformity^ which eftablifh'd the Common P7'ayerj and which is ftill (and may it ever be) unrepeal'd, has laid (uch profane Perfons under the feverc Penal- ties of Fines and Imprifonments, who prefume to preachy declare^ or [peak any thingin Derogation^ de- praving^ or defpifing the [aid Book, or any thing therein contain' d^ or any Part thereof. M O N D A Y 25 The SCOVKGIE. NuM.4, ^ , , Monday February If ^ tji J. I have {pread out my Hands unto a KchcWiom 'Peoj?le, which fay y ft and hyThj felf, come Tiot near to me^ for 1 am holier than Thou, i Thejeare a Smoke in my Nofe, Ifa. Ixv. 2, 5. ^S ^ ^§ perfued by the Church o't England f^^^^^^'S^G with that Zeal and Application, as ^jdS^^^S^'^ ^h*^^ againl-t the Prejhyterians^ and the other Branches of the Separa- tion, becaufe, I fuppofe, they were thought an inconfiderable People, who had not that Influence upoh'.the publick i^/y^fe/Wj, which the others were the Occafion of, .both in the Church and in the State: But their Numbers are of lateprodigioufly increasM by being negle&ed, and their Principles dre not only formidably difpers'd over thefe three ICingdoms, but they relolve to fecure their Herejy to Pofterity, by Ercfting of Charity-Schools for the Education of their Children > an undeniable Evi- dence of their Obilinacy, that they deflgntokeep open the Breach, and to propagate their Diviflons to after Ages. I was furprized the other Day, to fee a young Generation oi Schifmatids pafs through a Street in the "Num. 4. The S C O U R.G E, 25 the Suburbs, who, upon Enquiiy, I found were maintained by one of their Conz'enticks s I profefs it griev'd me to find fuch a Number of Boys fo in- humanly doom'd to Morofenefs^ Hypocrify and ///- nature ; QuaUties that akeady feem'd to appear in the very Lines of their Complexions. The poor things mov'd flowly along with their Arms dangling by their Sides, Eyes upon the Ground, and ftooping under a Hat of a very monflrous Curumference : God blefs the Children I But fuch a Company of down-look' d^hard'fa'voufdWi^'is^ I thought could not have been pick'd out of the Britijl) Dominions : I muft own, at the firft Sight, I concluded they were Palatines^ or of Dutch Defcent •, for their Mein, their Features, their Drefs, were perfectly foreign to the generous, the open, the unreferv'd Deportment of our Englijh Toutb-y and moil of them had fomethingfo crafty, fodefigning, foper- verfe in their Countenance, that I dread the In- fluence thofe Seminaries may have upon Religion and the State, if the Divine Providence, for oujr Sins, fhould let them loofe among us. The Religion of a ^aker feems to me to confift, in a greatMeafure, inhis Wayof ^S'/'^^y^/w^, and in the Shape of his Clothes j and whoever attempts to make a Profelyte of him to the Church, mult firft prevail with him to wear a Button upon his Hat^ and to talk hke other Men, before he offers to ex- amine into his Principles, or to reconcile him to our Communion : Upon this Account it was thought neceffary to begin with the Arguments this Se^ make ufe of in Defence of their Formahty and ill Manners j and I tremble to find the Holy Scripture brought upon the Stage, which they peiTert with as much Dexterity, as any Diffenter of them all, even to juftify the moft profane, the mofl prepoile- rous Aftions. C 4 Upon 24 r^^^ S C O URG E. NuM.4. Upon the Rcftoration of King CHARLES the ■ Second, thefe People were apprehcnfive of being iiipprefTed 5 for their Notions and Behaviour were thought to be very pernicious to Rehgion, as well as to Society, and the common Decency of Mankind : ' But an eminent Leader among them, in Defiance of the Government, undertook to defend their Tenets ,and Practices, andpubHfhVl feveral Reafons againft Hat'Hcnour^ /Titular Refpe^ls^ 7X)Uto afingle Per- fon^ gaudy Apparel and Recreations. A Specimen of his Religion and Philofophy ihall be a Part of this Week's Entertainment \ and I quelHonnot but any Perfon of Seiife will eaiily difcover the Vanity ancl the Blafphemy of his Arguments, and conclude, that the j^w^^ri" are abundantly w/y^ri^^teVG^^- yation^ ^thtym'e the ChiUren of this fForld^ thaii when they pretend fo veiy much, tohe the Children of Light. - The Treatifewas printed in Martins-k-Grand^ ^dbeginneth thus: ^Reader, Whether thou art * a night-walking Nicodemiis^ or a fcoffing Scribe ; ■4-^This know from the infallible Senfe of the eternal * Spirit, and from the eternal God do I declare, c^l'that to call each other Majier^ to honv^ to greet (^^ 'With flattering Titles^ to do thy fellow Creatures ^ Homage^ to fpend thy Time and Eft ate to gratify ^^(thy wanton Mind^ is but the Seed of the exalted ^ Lucifer^ and for thefe enfuing ferious Reafons. ' Honour, Friend, properly afcends, and not ' dcfcends \ yet the Hat, when the Head is un- * cover' d, defcends^ and therefore there can be no ' Honour in it, Befides, Honour was from the * Beginnings but Hats are an Invention of a late * Time^ and confequently true Honour ilandeth not I therein. ^ The Scripture, thou knoweft, faith, that /^^y^ f fto rule i^elljhail have d$ubk Honour: Now is * |his Num. 4. r/&^ SCOURGE. 25 * this double Honour, to put off two. Huts, or to * make two Bows, or to Hand twice.as long bare to ' didi a one, as to him who only defires fmglc Ho- * nour? No verily. ' If Honour was to be paid by pulling off the * Hat, fince Pcrfons are ot divers Ranks, it isr©- ' quifite that there flrould be a Law and Direction * how low to bow^ or to put off the Hat^ whick * we find is no where done. ' The Word Tou was firfl afcribed in way of ' Flattery to proud Popes and Emperors imitating *,, the Heathen Homage to their Gods. Is it not ^*^ very abfurd, that Children fhould be whipt at '«^. School for mifTmg Thou 'loxTou? Or, as having "*^ made fiilfe Latin, if they place one Number for '* another J yet that we mult be club'd, or at leail '^^repr6ach*d and laugh'd at when we ufc thefiimc '^'Propriety of Speech? l^Thou be improper or im* ' civil, C/:7r//?himfelf was rude and ill-bred. ' The Praftice of familiar gi'eeting was repre* ;* hended by the Lord Jefiis , and in old Time it ^ was no Difrefped for Men and Women to be ^ called by their own Names : Adam,^ tho'Lordof ■« the whole World, was never .caviled Mafter * Adam 3 We never read of Noah Efyuire^ Lot ' Knight and Baronet^ nor the Right Honourabk ' Abrahan], Vifcount Mefopotamia, Baroyi of Car* ' ran 5 no, no, they were plain Men, honeil Coun^ * tiy GraTiei-Sj that took care of their Fiuiiilies and * their Flocks/ Mofes was a great Prophet, and^ * ^^ro;^a Prieftof theLord> but we never read of ' the Reijerend Mofes, nor the Right Reverend ' Father in God^ Aaron, by Divine Providence, * Lord Jrch'BiJhop of Ifrael : Thou never fawclfc ^ Madam Rebecca in the Bible, myL^^;'Raclie1, * norA/^r>', tho' a Princcfs of the Blood, after tho ^ Death o^Jofeph^ called the Pri?icefs Dowag^;r of "^ ^^ ■ ' Nazai-eth^ ftS -f)^^ SCOURGE. 'Vimi.4. * Nazareth J no, ipX^dn Rebecca^ Rachel^ Mary y cxc •* the Widow Maiy, or the like: It was no Incivi- lity then to mention their naked Names as they were exprefled. * But for the vain Apparel and Recreations of the Age, Omiferable and wretched State indeed! It was Sin that brought the firft Coat to cover Shame j but now Apparel is abufed from its firft Inftitution. What Buying and Sclhng, what Dealing and Chaffering, what Writing and Poll- ing is there about forbidden Ornaments ? When Trade goeth low, the Seller prefenteth the World with a new and more convenient Fafhion, for- footh! Andi that perhaps before the former coftly Habits fhould have done half their Service 5 which either mufl be given away, or new vamp'd in the Cut moft A-la-mode: Alas! could it pofTibly be, that one from Pakftine fhould bring us Father AdanC% Girdle, and old Mother jEw's Apron to be {hewn, what laughing, what fleering and titterr ing would there be at their Grand-Father's and Grand-Mother's homely Fafhion ? Their Taylor, believe me, would find but Uttle Cuflom, tho' we hear it was God himfelf that few'd the Stitches, The like may be afked of all the other Vanities concerning the holy Men and Women, through all the Generations of Holy Writ : How many Pieces of Ribbon, Feathers, Lace-Bands, and the like, had ^(^^;« in Paradife, oroiitofit? What rich Embroideries, Silks and Points, had Ahel^ Enock^ Noahy or good old Abraham ? Did Eve^ Sarah^ Sufannab^ Elizabeth^ and the Virgin Mary ufe to curl, powder, pomatum, patch, paint, wear falfe Locks, and falle Teeth, Brocades, rich Trimmings, lac'd Gowns, embroider'd Petticoats, Shoes, and Slip-Shoes, lac'd with Silk or Silver- Lace, and rulHed like l?igeons Feet, with feveral ' Yards, Num. 4: . The S C O U RGE. ^a^ ' Yards, if not Pieces of Ribbon? Not an Inch, ' their Garments were Homc-fpunj they were ' good Hoiifewivcs, and without doubt minded * their Knitting. How many Plays did Jefus Chrift * and his Apollles recreate themfclves at ? What '* Poems, Romances, Comedies, and the hkc, did ' thefe holy Men and Women make, orufetopafe ^ the Time withal ? None, Friends, none. . I am con^dent the Reader mufl befufficiently xmA with fuch a.Colle6tion of Blafphemy and Nonfenfe ; but as wicked and trifling as it appears, I am afRired, it is the Foundation of thefe Peoples Principles, and the Subftance of all they can fay in Defence of therr Way ;oi S^eakirig^)thcii: Drefs^ and their Deprt- ment. .... ,; <.-.«\ -^Va-.V.* This ElTay is humbly dedicated to an eminent Quaker ^ who is commonly a Chairnxsm at a Coifee- Houfe in Bre—d-fireet^ and is tlioqght to be a fittej- Subjc6t for his Converfation, than thf Lives and Characters of the Clergy, which he ufes upon all Occaiions in a very unfriendly Maiiner : I am amazed that a Quaker ^ of all .Men, Hiould beahEnemyto the Church of England^ fince it is certain he liye^ more fecure under her Efliablifhmcnt, than he cao expect under any other 5 it being a Maxim witl^ the Prefbyterian particularly, and perhaps the truefl; he profefles, that ^ A "Toleration is pitting of a Swor4 into a Mad-rnan's Hand -y an appointing a City of Re^ fuge in Mens Conferences for the Devil to fly to > Of proclaiming Liberty to the Wohes to come into Chrifl's Fold^ to prey upon the Lambs j it is Soul Mf^rthev (the greatefi of all others) and for the eflablijhing whereof^ the damned Souls in Hell will eternally curji the Menupon the Earth. 1 1 ■ ' i I ■ * Harm. Con. />. ti; Monday 28 r/&.? S C O U RG E. Num. 5. ,^k »^^ a<^ ^^ ;<^k ^!^ ,*^ V^ V^ V^ ,^^ ^<^ ,!^ gg M o N D A Y Af^r^^ 4, 1717. The Priefts of Zion. do mourriy and Jhe is in J^itternefs j The Adverfary hath Jpread out \ his Hand upon all her pleafant Things, for " Jhe hasfeenthe Heathen enter into her San» ibizry^ andthe Lord hath called an Aflem^ bly againfi her:, Lam. i. 4, lo, X5. il' Mr. SCOFRGER, ^'^ V'!^^f A M a very ancient Man, an old Ca^ ^\-^(]|»| c valier, and have been an Eye- Wit- »'^ I ^^ ' nefs of a great many Changes and ^^^>a^(^-? ' Revolutions in this Kingdom: ?w«^«?!' rirKftrK^ ' But the Diftradtions the poor Church of England lay under in the time of the RebeUion, methinks are as freih in my Memo- ry, as if they had happen'd but Yeflerday: Would you beheve what abominable Ufage the moft facred and venerable Places met with in that wicked Age ? Our Saviour condemns the Jews for making the Temple a Den of Thieves, and a Houfe of Merchandife y but what would he have faid to have feen it filPd with Rebels^ Dragoons md Murderers? My very Heart bled when I beheld St. P^«/'s in this City made a Star, ble for Horfes, Beafts fiir lefs brutilh than their Riders, who polluted that holy Stmdure in the ^ moft Num. 5. The SCO URGE. 29 moft facrilegious Manner : I fhall never forget what work they;made with tht painted fVindows^ _and what Eiicovintcrs they had with Chrifi and his j^pojiles upon the Glals j whoever they met with there, were furc to fuffer in Effigy^ and truly they were as witty as their SucceiTors, our prelent Effigy-Mongers^ and obferv'd as much ' Decorum in the Execution: St. Stephen they pelted with Stones^ St. Matthew was knock'd to pieces with a i7^/Z'(?r/5 St. nomas with a Lance % eveiy Saint underwent the fame Martyrdom he ^ had lufFer'd in the Fleih many Ages before. ' Many a doughty Krtight in Armour, was over- thrown and kiird over and over, after they had been dead fome Ages, only becauie their fuper- ftitious Marbles wxre in the idolatrous Pofture of kneeling, and, without doubt, praying to fome popijh Saint in the neighbouring Window: In vain they took San6buary in thofe holy Places, which then could afford no Protc6tion to them- felves J they broke open the veiy Graves and plun- der'd the Dead j the Altar they burnt j the Font they tum'd into a wateiing Trough 5 and I was an Eye-Witnefs, when a Dragoon fprinkled his Horle, fignM him in the Forehead with a Crofs^ and caird him Efau > for the Jell's fake, I fup- pofe, becaufe he was a hairy Beaft. This gave Occafion to Foreigners to obfer^^e, that England was the moil retorm'd Nation under the Sun, for their very Horfes went to Church. ' But, Sir, all this it feems was done out of a Principle of pure Religion > it was no more than a dellroying of Dagon^ and the Whore of Baby- lon^ which they were oblig'd to do 5 and I would not have you think there was no Preaching or Praying among them, for eveiy one there had a paiticular Gift-^ and you could hear Bkciion^Repro- ' Nation ■J'.c 30: The SGOURGE. Num. y/ * hation'2ivA Free-will^ banded about as dexteroxifly * by thofe Bea^fts of the People^ as by the tallell * Cafiiili: of the Tribe. Good God ! The Blaf-.; * phemy and Nonfenfe that L have heard in thofe" ''Days! One Fellow enquiring into the Place o£^ * St. PauVs Education, very politively affirms it ^ * to be at the Foot o£ Gamaliel^ a gxfxtAIountam * mJifJea-y another miftakes, inmy Father' s Houfe\ * are many Manfions, for, in my Father's Houfe ate * many Manchets, and from thence concludes whdt' * fine Bread, even pretty httle Manchets there Avei^e ^ * in God's Houfe > and truly it is no wonder futh' * "horrible Blunders flow'd from their profane Lips, * when the; Preachers were no more than ordinary * Mechanicks 5 who had run away from their Ma- ' fters into the Rebel Army, and there learnt the * Trade of War and Saintfhip, which at that; tinic * were infeparably link'd together : It was a very * comtnon thing to hear a Soldier Praying upon the * Drum's Head : They were all of them a fort of * fpiritual Dragoons, that would ferve either for * Horfe or Foot, that could exercife a Troop in * martial Difcipline, and in Rebellion too, and ' fire a Piftol in their Prince's Face whilft they were ' repeating the Fifth Commandment. ' You muft obferve, Sir, that thefe were Fel- * lows that could preach and figfot too, but there * were others that had not that Share of Courage, ' and very zealoufly ftaid at Home to pray for their ' Brethren that w^ere Fighting the Lord's Battle z- ' gainft the Mighty abroad > thefe, I aflure you, ' were very grave Men, and conftant Heai'ers of * Sermons, which in thofe Days were call'd Exer- ' cifes, a laborious fort of Difcipline for the Lungs, ' but abfolutely neceflary for the Caufey to encou- ^ rage Villany, and julHfy Sedition : You mull ' know they never went to the Meetings without * their Num. 5. The S C O U RG E, ^y thqir Bible under their Arm, whether they could read or not j and thofe that were Scholars, and could write among them, had always Pen and Ink, and a large Pocket-Bookj the diftinguifh-' ing Mode of the Saints at that Time. The - Scraps of holy Nonfenfe they brought off, were always fure to be produced at Home j and very often the Neighbourhood call'd in to partake of the Fragments, and to hear the Repetition of - the Difcourfe. ' Why, Sir, Religion was as common among the SeUarijis in thofe Days, as Impudence and ■ Ignorance are now, and you could not ftir but Texts of Scripture flew about your Ears hke Hail- Shot: Every CobIerw2^ for dabbling in Divi- nity, and vaituring beyond his Laft 5 your Ba^ ker could talk of nothing but the Old Leaven j tliQ Blackfmitb^ with a Spai'k of Zeal in his Throat, would be hammering out Hobnails and Herefy j and the Gfocer was always retailing Re- ligion. You could not buy an Ounce of Pep- per but you had a Pound of Edification into the Bargain, and the Shopman would repeat you a Chapter while he was twifting his Packthread. I knew a Trader in a Market-Town, who was very dexterous this way 5 when a Countiyman came in he would weigh him his Ounce of To- bacco, and then (if the Shop was empty, other- wife his Religion always fubmittcd to his Inte- reft) invite him to Ht and fmoke a Pipe > in the Difcouife he would not fail to acquaint him with the Accomplilhmcnts of his Minifter^ a faithful Labourer in the Lord^ and perfuadc him to come and hear that powerful Man (for once only, and there could be no harm in that) who was as much beyond the Parfon of his Parifh, as The fimple Rullic thanks him for his Love, and inno- ' cently j^f 7;&^ S C O U RG E. Num. 5 ; ' cently accepts his Kindnefs, blows out one Smoke, ' but (ucks in another far more dangerous and in- ' toxicating: He is peifuaded, comes to the next * Meeting, hears and applauds what he does not ^^underllandj goes Home, tells the fine Story to 'his Neighbours, and draws them likewife into ' the Tunnel. ' I am forc'd to break ofF in this abrapt Man- * ner, becaufe my little Grandfon, who writes * for me, begins to be tir'd> but you may exp'e^ * to receive a farther Account at a more conve- * nient Time, from, TourSy the Fanatick Hater. Inflead of my own Remarks upon this Letter, I fhall beg Leave to fubjoin a Speech of Archbi- ihop Whitgift to Queen Elizabeth^ which appears to be a direA Prophecy of thofe Hcentious Times : This Princefs it feems, upon the Requeft of her Favourite the Earl of Leicefter^ was peiliiaded to encroach upon the Church, and break in upon her Privileges, which was fo warmly refented by this Prelate, that he bravely addrefs'd himfelf in this Manner. IBefeech your Majefty to hear me patiently, and believe that the Church's and your Safety are dearer to me than my Life, but my Confcience dearer than both 5 and therefore beg Leave to dif- charge my Duty in telling you, That Princes are inftrufted with Power to proted: the Churchy and therefore God forbid you fhould be fo much as Paffive in her Ruin, \vhen you may prevait it j or that I Ihould fee it without Horror or Detefla- tion i>ruM.5. TkeSCOUKGi: 3? tion, or forbear to acquaint your Majefty with the Sin and Danger that attend it > Madam, there are fuch Sins as Profanenels and Sacrilege j and that as the laft is the grcatcft, fo the Curfe of God is due to it in a higher Degree. Your Majefty^ hlce all your Predeccilbrs, was (worn at your Coronation to pro- ted the Church in all her Rights and Privileges j and it would be a great Crime in any that abhor Idols to comvmt Sacrilege. Let not what the Earl of Leicefter objeded againfl: fome fevj Clerg) men prevail with your Majefty to prejudice Poilerity. Let particular Men be punifh'd for particular Er- rors •, and not the Righteous made tojuffer with the IVicked. I pretend not to prophecy, yet would have Poilerity obferve, that Church Lands added to an ancient Inheritance^ have often confumedhoth. And tho' I forbear to fpeak reproachfully of your Father, King Henry the VIIL yet I beg you to take Notice, that part of the Churches Eftate be- ing added to -the vaft Treaflire, left him by his Fa- ther, brought an inevitable Confumption upon both, notwithftanding all his Seduhty to preferve it. And your Majefty may pleafe to confider, that after he had violated his Oath, with refpe6t to Magna Charta^ God fo far deny'd him his reilrain- • ing Grace, that he fell into greater Sins than I will mention. Madam, Religion is the Founda- tion and the Bond of humane Societies^ and when they that minifber at God's Altar fhall be reduc'd to Poverty and Contempt, Religion will foon dwindle into nothing \ and therefore as your Ma- jefty is now endu'd with a Power to fave or con- fume the Revenues of the Church, yet I beg you, for Jefus falce, the Good of your Kingdom, and the Peace of your own Conlcience, to difpofe of them according to the Intention of the Donors. Animate the Spirit of the Univerftties^ and imitate D the H the scourge; Num. 5. the Example oi Samuel^ in whofe Days the Schools of the Prophets ^omiih'd', even iS^/// himfelf, who did much Hurt among the People, yet when he came to the Schools of the Prophets, his Heait relented, hedurft not violate t heir KightSj but put off his Robes and prophecy' d among them. Put a Stop, I befeech you, to the Ruin of the Church j as you expert Comfort in the great Day of the Lord, for Kings muft he jud^d. Pardon this du- tiful Plainnefs, my moft dear Sovereign, continue me in your Favour, and the Lord continue you in His. MoNPAir NuM.6. 77j^ SCOURGE. ^s J*<: ^K *. ;*. .*^ .^ .*. <^. ,*■> p*^ .^<'. ^- ^^ >*;:. it-, *-, *•, ^. a^ J*^. ^i, si* *l $ I :|:^ puts his Hand into a Nell o^ Hornets^ ^T^y^^%Lf^ and had need be well guarded both ^/-'k^i'i%\^ with Lav) and Innocence^ to efcape their Stings and the Fuiy of their Refentmcnts : As for the Laws^ 'tis certain they are the Honour and Prote6tionof ^^rEftabhilimentj and wejulHy glory that the Happinefs of this Nation depends entirely upon the Church of England ^ whofe Pro- fperity alone can derive a BlelHng upon the State, and make us a pious and flourifhing People : And the Author of the 6' C O C/i^ G £ appeals to Hea- ven in Defence of his Innocence 3 he declares that he has no Inducements to publilli his Thoughts in this Manner, but to fitisfy the Importunities of his own Mind, and to difcharge that Duty which he folemnly owes to God and his Religion 5 he engaged at his Baptifm to be a good Soldier, to fight 7nanfully^ and to contend earneftly for the Faith 5 and not only to Hand firm in his Behef, but to quit himfelf like a Man and bcftrongj and he ab- D 2, hors 36 r;6^ SCOURGE. NuM.6. hors to be thought an Apoflate, or a bafe Betrayer of his Profeilion y he refolves to profecute the Caufe he has undertaken, with Refolution and Courage j the Weapons he deligns to ufc, will be Truth^ Sincerity^ and Reafon^ and the Laws of his Coun- tiy are his Shield, to fecure him from the inve- terate Malice of his Enemies : He is no way apprc- henfive of Danger from the Arguments of his Ad- vei-faries, and he thinlcs himfelf above refenting their ill Language, th eir Reflections and Reproach : It makes himfmilctobe call'd and the SucccfTors oiCahin^ that Geneva Rebel^ have made fuch a Figure in the EngUfi Htflory^ as will eternal- ly fatisfy Manldnd what Spirit they are of^ and that they Num. 6. The SCOURGE. 37 they can upon Occiilion, be very free with their Superiors, overthrow Dominions, and fpeak E^'il of Dignities. Will thefe Men pcrfuade us, that all this Noile, this Undermining, this Courting of the Populace, is only upon the Account of a few innocent Cere- monks in the Churcli ? No, They feem to advance againif us with the fuiie Artilleiy that formerly blew up our Ellablifliment > and the Engineers make ufe of the fime Stratagems, which then fo fatally blafted our Conltitution, and made our Countiy a Scene of Blood, Confufion and Ruin. To prove the Equity of this Ccnfure, let us ad- iult the Pai'allel, and take a fhort View of the lirft Springs that introduc'd thofe civil Calamities, and wc {hall find the fame Caufesveiyinduftrioufly at work by our Dijfenters at this Time y and the fame Caufes, if not prevented, mult be foUow'd with the fame Effe6ts. EPISCOPJCr thenwas the firft Grievance j it was a PopJJo Infiitution^ worfe than Egyptian Bon- dage^ and an intolerable Yoke upon the People j and is not the Prefs conftantly employed at this Time to blacken that primitive Order, as Romijh and j^nti- chriftian ? There is not a Week pafTes without fome fcandalous Libel in Defence of Ordination by Prefbyters^ an Impofliure never to be found in the firll Ages of the Church, and 'tis to be hop'd will never be eftabliih'd in the Laft. Does not our excellent Liturgy labour under the fame infamous Charafters ? Are not our Prayers, our Ceremonies, our Altars, our Veilments, and the other Decen- cies of our Worfhip, traduc'd as Paganifm and Idolatry ? Are not our Clergy^ the molf learned, loyal, and inoffenfive Body of Men under the Hea- vens, defim'd with the moft opprobrious Titles, •SLS zjefuitical^ turbulent^ fa6tious^ fcandalous Order -^ D 3 and 3 8 r^^ SCOURGE. NuM.de and that by fcoundrel atheillical Wretches, who lupport themfdves with Impudence and Lyes, and are the Drudges of a Party, to dillurb the Tran- (juility of our Church, and to expole the Miniftry\ if not to the Jealoufie of the State, at leaft to the Hatred and Fury of the People ? Thcfe were the Proceedings that made Way for the Overthrow of the Nation in the late Times > and I am forry it is fo cafie to prove, they are now fo indefatigably acivanc'd by our Secfcariils, tho' perhaps upon more moderate Views, as if they could prelerve the State, v/hilfl they are attempting the Ruin and Dellrudion of the Church. But what ! Is the Church o£ England^ the Glory and Support of the Reformation, the Purity of whofe Faith has been fo expreily declared, fo illu- ftrioufly attefled and fpoken of through all the Worlds is She become PopiJJo at laft? Is this Church, that has folemnly difown'd all the ufui'p'd Authority, and condemn'd all the falfe Do6Lrines of the Roman See^ become JVhorijJo and Antichriftian ? What a new Wonder mull this be to the World, to hear a Church conftituted by Cranmer and Ridley^ accus'd of Popery > that Fai th and Worfliip fufpect- ed to be unreform'd, which was delivered down to us by thofe great Martyrs, and cemented by the Tears, the Sweat, and Blood of our Progenitors ? Is this the Reward of a Church, whofe Sons ha^^e given fo loud a Teflimony againft the Roynan^ in their Lives, and by their Deaths, who have Ifill born the Burden and Heat of the Day j who have felt the fierceft Rage of the Enemy, and have re- turned them the deadlieft Wounds ^ who have been foremoft in all Encounters, all along in the laft Age, and in our own^ the Famous and the Vidrorious Champions of the Proteftant Caufc ? If this Church, and thefe Men, after the Decbration made in oiu- JrticJes^ NuM.6. r^^ SCOURGE, 39 Articles^ after repeated Sub fir ipt ions ^ and Ahrenim* ciations^ after all this zealous Oppofition of Popery^ mull llill lie under the Cenfure and the Sufpicion of it> let us fairly give up our Rcafon, and pronounce the Pope himfelf to be a Proteflant. Must our Clergy be made obnoxious to the Re- fentment and the Odium of the State, who have given the moil generous Aflurances of their Affe- Aion, without Cant^ Impudence and Hypocrify j whofe Loyalty is fecur'd by the moft folemn En- gagements, and whofe Principles oblige them to Duty and Submiilion for Confcience fike? Are thofe a fcandalous Order of Men, who by the Piety of their Writings and Example, have kept alive that Spark of ReHgion that is yet among us, and by their Prayers have hitherto put by the Divine Vengeance, which the Impieties, the Blafphemy, and the He- refic of our Enemies, very juftly demand upon our Heads? Can it be thought Policy (tho' we have all imagi- nable Security to the contrary) to alter an Eftabhm- ment to pleale a Party, or to admit a Faction into Power, who contend for the Independency of the Church, whofe Opinions muft diveft the Prince of his Supremacy, and bring him upon the Level with his meaneft Subjefts ? What a Figure would a Prefi hyterian make at the Communion-I'able in an Elbow- Chair, or a ^aker with his Hat on ? And what muft be the Fate of the Church of England when thefe Wretches are Voting in Pai'liament, and have the Aft of Uniformity at their Command. Are not the Interefts of the Church and State infeparably united ? Are not Schifm and Rebellion Twin-Sifters? Do they not imply one another? And how few are there who have been profelyted to a Se^^ but have at the fame time bid adieu to their Allegiance ? Mofii was perfeftly convinced of this, D 4 when 40 The S e O U RG E. Num. 6. when Korah and his Accomplices made a Diflur- bance in the Congregation^ the Defign of the Mutiny was pretended only againil the Pontifical Dignity, and the Epifcopal Preheminence of ^^r^;^ 5 but the Prophet perceiv'd that they aim'd at the Civil Power through the Sides of the High Prieil > and therefore, however they were cried up for the People of the Lord j he dealt with them as State- Rebels, fore-feeing what began in Schifm would end in Rebellion^ and that the Pretence of a Refor- mation in the Church was only to fan6tify the Con- fpiracy \ and when the 'fen Tribes revolted from the Houfe of Davld^ the Defedion began with fome Grievances in the State > but the Villain, to make it impoilible for the People to return again to their Obedience, ftrengthened his Rebellion by -xSchlf- matical Separation from the Sendee of .the Temple, for which Reafon the Spirit of God has laid an in- delible Reproach upon his Name, Jeroboam the Son of Nehat^ who made Ifraelto lin. . ; - ' -:ilN ihort, t]icPreJhyterian Difciplinc was once permitted by God to triumph upon the Ruins of the. Church; but v even then^ when they had the faireft Opportunities in their Hands, and had the Power of the Sword to fupport it, they could not raife it to any tolerable Settlement, it prov'd ftrange- ly difagreeable to the People of England (who are very tenacious of ancient Cuftoms) and broke as it Were into Fradtions of Fractions : And can they hope to introduce themfelves noiij^ when we have tried their confounding diforderly Schemes , and have experienced the Freedom they boafl of to be perfeft Slavery ? When the whole Legiflative Power, King^ Lords and Commons^ are profelled Favourites of our Church, and are folemnly engaged in its Defence ? Thefe People have veiy whimlical Projects, but I would advife them to drop their Ambitiouj Num. 6. r^^ SCOURGE. j^t Ambition, and quietly dream on within the 7;/^////- gem'e of theGovemment,without fpitting in theFace of the Church : I declare I no ^vay envy their Re- pole, which may they eternally enjoy if it proves for f h.e Peace and Happincfs of om* Elhibhllimcnt, and. the publick Intcrcli and Tranquility of the Englijb Nation. N. B. The Letter Hgn'd 7! D. was received 5 but the Author of the SCOURGE begs his Pardon, his Dcfign being not to engage openly in a Paper War^ cfpecially with fuch a Icandalous Adverfary ; but he promifcs to take notice of his Complaints, at II convenient Time, and he hopes in a more agree- able Manner. Monday ■4i T/^^ SCOURGE. Num. 7, ^^^^^^^ Monday March i8. 171 7. Cod forbid that I jhotild Glory ^ fave in the Crofi of our Lordjefus Chrifl j Gal. vi. 14. ^J'-&?i&'l HEN I firil fubmitted the Defign of this *G W ^'•' ^U^^y ^^ thole Gentlemen, by whom it ^jS ^ ^^"J^ has been fo honourably encourag'd, I Ik* * * -r^ promifed to enter the Lifts in Defence of cur Churchy in whatever manner She fhould be attacked j and as in my laft, I offer'd fomething in general, to vindicate her from the Imputation of Popery 5 fo I lliall from time to time take occafion to be more particular, and difcover the Bafenefs of our Enemies, who refieft upon the decent Ceremonies of our Woiihip, as if they were exactly copied from the Pracbice of the Papift^ and canied about ihem the fime Superftition and Idolatiy, that we juftly charge upon the Church of Ro'me. It is im- poflible to examine the feveral Branches of this Calumny within the Compais of one Paper, and therefore I fhall confine my felf to that Part which relates to the Crofs in Baptifniy as the Subjeft of this Day's Entertainment. The Crofs in Baptifm, or rather after Baptifm, is a Ceremony to be met with in the earlieft Ages of the Church, made ufe of by the Primitive Chriftians upon feveral Occafions, in Defiance of the Heathen World, and in Token tha^t they were net afhamed of Num. 7. r>6^ S C O URG E. 45 of a crucified Saviour : With this they put thcm- fclves in mind of the Sufferings of their Mailer, and with this they fupported themfelves under their own : It was the common DilHncSlion of a ChrilHan, ynder which Confiantine^ the Roman Emperor ob- tained thofe Victories that put an End to the Pagan I^erfecutions. Our firft Reformers therefore ob- ferving the Crofs to be very fuperilitioufly apply'd by the Romans^ and a great deal of imaginary Virtue and Adoration imputed to tlic Sign, and yet remem- bring withal, the devout Practice of the fir ft and belt Ages, as they abhor'd to countenance the one, fo they were tender too of condemning the other j and for that Realbn, after the Sacrament of Baptifm is adminiltred, and the Child perfectly baptiz'd, the Priclt is orderVi when he declares audibly the Ad- miflion of the Child into Chrift's Flock, to declare vifiblv too by that blejjed Sign^ what that Shame is the Chriltian ought to dcfpife ; how he is openly, always, and as it were on his Forehead, to bear the Profellion of his Faith > what that Banner is under which he is now lifted, and in what Warfare he ftands engaged. The Sign of the Crofs is no Part or Subftance of the Sacrament, nor does it any way add to the Virtue or the Perfc&ion of it > the Infant is abfolutely received a Member of the Chriftian Faith without it 5 and that it might be impoflible for any Standcr by, how weak foever, to hill into any Superftition himfelf, or to fufpe6t it in the Miniffcer, he never ufes this Action in a filent Manner, but pro- claims the edifying Signification, and declares the direct Meaning in the molt expreflive Words. But if this will not jultifie this Ceremony from the Scan- dal of Popery , it is to be hop'd when the World is made acquainted with the Idolatry and Profancnels of the Roman^ and with what Superllition he makes qfe of this Sign^ upon a Comparilbn, the Church of 44 TheSCOUKCE. Num./. of England will be free from the Guilt, and recover that Pan of her Charadter in this, which her Ene- mies allow her to defervc in other Cafes, that fhe is the exad Pifturc of the Primitive and Apoftolick Age. And that I may difcharge my felf of this in the moft effcdual Manner, I ihall tranflate part of the Office for Baptifm in the Church o£ Rome^ into our own Language, and then fubmit the Caufe to any unprejudic'd Reader, even our Enemies tbemfelves being Judges. But before I begin, I defire it might be obfeiT'd, that wherevei' this >^ is infeited, the Prieft malces the Sign of the Crofs upon the Infant. To pafs by a long Account of preparatory Pre- fcriptions j the Prieil being drefl: in a Surplice and a purple Robe, calls the Infant to be baptized by his Name^ and fays. What ajkeft thou of the Church of God? The Godfither anfwers. Faith. The Priell fays again, What floalt thou get hy Faith ? The Godfather rephcs, Eternal Life. Then adds the Prieft, If therefore thou wilt enter into Life^ keep the Commandments^ Thou jh alt love the Lord thy God 'with all thy Hearty and thy Neighbour as thy felf Next the Prieft blows three gentle PulFs upon the Infant's Face, and fays. Go out of him^ O un- clean Spirit^ and give Place to the Holy Ghoft^ the Comforter. Then with his Thumb he makes the Sign of the Crofs upon the Infant's Forehead and Breaft, faying. Receive the Sign of the Crofs^ both in thy Forehead and in thy Heart .^ take the Faith of the heavenly Precepts^ and be thy Manners fucb as may now become the Temple of God. After this, follows a Paper, that God would always protect this his EleU One (calling him by his Name) that is fign^d with the Sign of the Crofs j and the Prieft laying his Hand upon the Infant's Head, Num. 7. The SCOURGE. 45 Head, he blefTes him with the Benedidion of Salt^ which is done in this Form. / ex'orcife (or conjure) tbee^ Creature of Salt^ in the Name of God^ the Father Almighty^ >^ and in the Love of our Lord Jefus Chrift^ >^ and in tht Power of the Holy Ghoft^ ►{< / conjure thee by the living God^ )^ by the true God^ ►J^ by the holy God^ ►J^ by the Godj >^ which created thee for the Safeguard of Mankind -y ayid hath ordained that thou flwuld'^jl be confecrated by his Servants^ to the People enter- ing into the Faith^ that in the Name of the holy Trinity^ thou foould' fi be made a holy Sacrament for the driving away of the Enemy. Moreover we p'ay thee^ O Lord our God^ that in fandlifying thou would' ft fan5lify >^ this Creature of Salt^ and in blefting thou wouldft blefs it^ >^ that it may be to all that receive it a perfeU Medicine^ remaining in their Bowels^ in the Name of the fame Jefus Chrifb our Lord^ who is about to come to judge the ^ick and the Dead^ and the JVorld^ by Fire. Amen. This idle and profane Form being recited, the Prieft proceeds in his Work with the poor Infant, and putting a little of this holy Salt into his Mouth, he calls him by his Name, and fays. Take thou the Salt of TVifdom 5 and adds mofl impioufly, hs it thy Propitiation unto eternal Life^ Amenj and then God i\lmighty is mock'd with a Prayer, fTjaf the Infant^ who had tafted this fir ft Food of Salt^ may not be fuffefd any more to hunger ^ but may be fiird with celeftial Food. Now follows another exorciling of the Devi], wherein he is conjur'd as before, and moft wofully bccall'd) and next the Prieft fignsthe Infant again with his Thumb on the Forehead, faying, And this Sign of the holy Crofs^ ►J^ which we give tohisFore- head^ thou curfcd Devil ^ never dare thou to violate j hy the fame Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. And 46 tkeSCOVKGE. Num. 7. And as if there was not fooling enough, the Prieft blows thrice in the Child's Face, which is always done Crofs-ivays^ and then eroding his Fore- head, fays, Ijlgn thee in the Forehead in the Name of our Lord Jefus^ ►J^ that thou mafft trufl in him j then he crolTes his Eyes^ faying, / hlefs thy Eyes that thou mafft fee his Bright nefs > then his Ears, faying, / blefs thy Ears that thou mafft hear the IVords of his fruth , then his Noftrils^ fayii'ig^ / hlefs thy Noftrils that thou ?nafft fmell his Sweet- nefs 5 then his Breaft^ frying, / blefs thy Breaft that thou mafft belie'ue in him j then his Shoulders^ (aying, / hlefs thy Shoulders that thou mafft^ bear the Yoke of his Service -, then his Mouthy frying, / hlefs thy Mouth that thou mafft confefs him who lives and reigns with God the Father 5 and then his Right-Hand^ f^yii'ig? I deliver thee the Sign of our Lord Jefus >J< in thy Right-Hand^ that thou may' ft fign thy felf^ and drive away the Enemy on all Sides from thee^ and may' ft have eternal Life, Here alfo the Prieft lays his Robe upon the Child in the Figure of a Crofs^ and then pronounces over him this Benediction, The Blefting of God the Father ►J4 Almighty^ and of his Son^ y^i and Holy Ghoft )^ defcend and abide upon thee^ and the An- gel of the Lord keep thee. This is a Specimen in what manner the Roman applies this Sign in Baptifm > and now I defy the boldefl: of our Adveiiaries to lay Idolatry, Super- ftition, or P opery u^onn^ as if we complied with the Papift, or borrow'd this Ceremony from him : It was a Veneration for Antiquity that firft intro- duc'd the ufe of the Crofs into our SeiTice, which the Church of England fo highly efteems, as not to give up the minutcft Branch of her Liturgy in Comphance with the new upftart Enthufiaftic No- tions of thofc, who by ciying out Popery ! Popery ! take Num. 7. The SCOURGE. 4^ take the readieil Method to bring it in; accor- ding to the old Maxim, that the Jefuit and the DiJJenter go Hand in Hand. And now I am engag'd upon this Subjeft, I think my felf oblig'd to comply with my Corre- fpondent, who with a true Chriflian Spirit, did me the Favour of the following Letter. Sir, IDefireyou^ hy thefefevj Lines^ tofatisfythemojl fcrupulous Members of the Church of England, that our calling the firft Day of Lent hy the Name (?/ Afh-Wednefday, has nothing at all of Vo^^j tit it 'y hut is done with regard to a Cufiom in the An* cient Churchy when the Penitents cafl Afhes upon their Heads^ as a I'oken of Humiliation and Repen-- tance : And that our faying Amen to the Curfes taken out of the Scriptures and read upon that Day^ does not mean that we either cuife our fehes^ or thofe who are guilty of any of the Sins then mention d*^ hut we declare only that we believe the Truth of what God has rcueaPd^ who has affur'*d us that whoe'vei^ commits thofe Sins floall he under a Curfe ; our fay-' ing Amen fignifies no more than that we verily he" lieve^ that he whom God hleffeth is hlej/ed^ and h^ whom God curfeth is curfed. Your humble Servant, '^^ 'M' ^^M^ WW Monday* 4* The SCOURGE. Num. %: Monday March if. 171 7. AsfreCy and not tifingyotir Liberty for a Cloak of Malicioufnefs s Pet. ii. 1 6. T was the Advice of a Statcfman to Juguftus^ upon his firfl Settlement of the Roman Empire, that he jhould follow conjiantly the Efiablijh'd Religion of his Country y for all Inno'vations would foment Sedition in the State^ and he a Means to fubijert his Government : A Maxim that deferve^to be diftinguilli'd in Golden Charafters over the Throne, and perpetually fland before the Eyes of Princes ? But we have a Set of Politicians in this Age J who pretend to be wifer than their Elders -, and prepofteroufly infinuate, that the way to ad- vance the Happinefs of the Nation is to break in upon the Conftitution of the Church : They would perfiiade us to throw open our Inclofures, and fpread our Arms wide to receive xhtFiper^ whofePoifon Would foon taint our Vitals, and coiTupt the Spirit of Religion it iclf Our D if/enters are fenfible, that the Church of England is morally fecure fo long as fhe is defended by the teft^ which is her Barrier, and makes it im- poflible for her Enemies to have it in their Power fo abfolutely to accomplifh her Ruin j fo long as the Receiving the Sacrament Kneeling is made a Qualifi- cation for Perfons to be employ'd in the pubUck Offices Num. s. T/je SCOUKG E. 49 Offices of the Kingdom, To long will our Edablilh- mcnt continue alive 5 and itmuilbe Villany with a witncfs, for any ^^•ho profcfs a Communion w ith us, to be in the lea(lengag'dinourDcilTU(5'tion. This is fo well undcrllood by omfalfe Friends^ that tlicy propofe to have the Ceremony abolilh'd, to receive at the Altar in their own flovenly Pollurcs, or be admitted into Places of Trufl and Honour in the Nation in common Avith the reft of their Fellow Subjcfts. A ftrangc Tnhituation this, that the whole Chain of thefe Mens Dcfigns fhould be always for Oppoftng and Pulling doivn^ as if Milchief and Wickednefs were their particular Province > and the Way to merit Heaven were to confoiuid all Order and Peace upon Earth! If a conjcientious Liberty^ and a/r^^Exercife of their Religion, were the only Profpcd before them, they have it to all Intents and Purpofes imaginable : But to be dabbhng in the Government, is as natural to them as Water to a Fifh 5 and if they cannot command with Au- thority, and controul with Plealure, the Current of Aftairs will be always difturb'd, and never free from foul Weather and Tempefts. The only Ar- gument I ever heard in Defence of this Projeft was, that the DiJJenters are a mimercus and wealthy People^ which, if it has any Force, the formidable Party Q^Atheifts^ their own Off-fpring, may claim a Share in the Adminiftration as well as they, fmce I fear they are as numerous and ^wealthy •, our Experience afTurcs us, that Jtheifm is the laft Refult of Fanatjck Zeal'y and w^hen Men arc over-heated in running the feveral Courfes of Fadion and Opinion, their Heads are giddy, at laft they fit down when the Breeze is over, and center in a dirc6l Apoftacy. But ftiould fuch dangerous Enterprizes fucceed, what End would there be of our Diforder and Con- fufion? God knows, the Underftanding of thefe E Men 50 r>6^ SCOURGE. Num. 8, Men are fo fmall, their Prejudices fo flrong, and their Enthufiafms lb vain, that they are perfectly un- quaUfied for any thing that requires a generous and pubHck Spirit > they are properly weak Brethren^ unable to fearch into the Reafon of things, or refolve about them , befides, iTiould the SeUarifts be once admitted to fhufflc among the Concerns of the Nation, be free to Vote and put in their Claim for the Employs and the Miniftry of the State, what a Hodge-Podge mull we expect in our Politicks! Their Induffay, their Clamours, their Libels and Lies, will put a fatal Biafs upon the publick Coun- fels, and 'tis as poflible to filence the Raging of the Sea as the Madnefs of thefe People. No Man of Senfc will attempt what is fo very impracticable j for tho' they are divided among themielves in Do- 6ti-ine, in Modes of Woiihip, and Forms of Go* vernmentj Ephraim againfl Manaffeh^ and Ma- najfeh againit Ephraim y yet the Judah of the Church of England is the united Ob j eft of all their Spleen, and what they moft implacably ftudy to deltroy : If we refle6t how the DifTenters in a late Reign complied with a difpenjing Power -y what grateful Acknowledgments were made to the Prince, when their Friend Father Petprs oblig'd them with a full Indulgence^ how they fuperfeded all thofe Laws that were made for above a hundred Years fucceffively , to fecure the Protefhant Re- ligion 'y there is no occalion (to ufe the Words of one of their Addreilcs at that Time) for a Window into their Breafls to difcover the Reality of their Inten- tions : It is too evident that the Church of England is the only Popery they would fupplant, and that they can confederate with the Papifts themfelves, to bring Misfortunes upon her. The Wifdom of the Prince without Queflion will prevent tliofe Confequences that muft attend fuch Num. 8. The SCOURGE. 5r fuch pernicious Defigns j and the general Intereft of the Nation requires, that the Magniracy and the Polb of Honour Hiould be always placed in thole Hands, who have given the C^^/rrZ? an Evidence of their AfFcdion to her Doctrine and DilcipUne. Does not the King when he enters upon the Royal Office, folcmnly afllire the Church of his Protection and Defence > and with what Face will a bubjc6b pretend to an Employment under him, without giving the fame Security ? What can more advance the Grandeur of a Kingdom, prdeiTC the outw ard Decomm of Government, and defeat thofe con- tinual Heats and CabalHngs, the feveral Factions will be always promoting the one againlt another, than to ^^ the ruling Power in one Perfuafion, whofe Bufinefs will be to take care of the whole, and to fee the particular Parties enjoy their private Opinion, without the leaft Infi'acStion upon the publick Peace ? But what will be the Undeccncy ? How prepofterous mult it appear to a Native or a Foreigner, to fee the Sword of this City dance At- tendance from one Place to another according to the Humour of the prevaihng Faction j to fee it this • Year at Pinnefs-Hall^ the next fet up at an Indepen-^ dent Conventicle^ and the Third among the Quakers in Lombard-ftreet ? How unbecoming is this the Gravity of the Englijh Nation, and of what de- fperate Importance ? For whatever Pleas may be offer'd, or Proteftations made, we know how things went when the weak Confcience had the ftrongefi Sword •, Dominion was then founded in Grace^ and the appointed Time come for the Saints to inherit the Earth. How will the ancient Glory and Hofpitality of this City be extingnilh'd, when the Magiltracy is lodged in the Power of a itingy, poor-fpirited Dif- fentcr? The Character which was given of aS'/^/V/^/, E z who 52 r/j^ SCOURGE. Num. 8. who firft led theVan to Fadion and Frugality, is true of all the rell •, Cool are their Kitchens^tho' their Brains are hot -, in iTiort, a fneaking, fingle-fourd Sedarifl cannot exert himfelf to any thing that is Great or Munificent > Gain is his Godlinefs, and Profit his Preferment. The Comparifon of St. Paiil^ which he applies to theChurch, will bear with Relation to the State j if the Head be a Monarchy and the Feet Common" ^wealths Men^ the Eye a Prefbyterian^ and the Ear an Independent^ with a whole Clan of maggoty Schif- maticks grumbUng in the Belly ^ with what Con- vulfions and Agonies muil the Body be difturb'd ? What Medicines will it require to difcharge fuch a Comphcation of Diftempers, and reduce the Blood and Spirits to a right Temperament and Order? Among the many pretty Devices^ which in the Low Countries hang out for Signs^ there is at Har- lem^ a Barrel of Beer between two Dray-men^ turn'd Back to Back^ and puUing two contrary Ways > and there is a Nation in the World that has Hood in this unhappy Pofture for many Years, with thefe aggravating Circumftances, that as there have been more than two Pullers^ fo they have pulled more than twenty feveral Ways , that the FeJJel has been able to hold out thus long, is furprifing ; but when the Enemy comes to have Authority^ to i-Si^^n to it his Cords of Vanity^ and to tugg as it were with Cart-Ropes ^ if it fhould not immediately burft, would be infinitely more to Admiration. But the Reafon that prevails moil: v/ith me againfl admitting the Sc5iarifts into the pubHck Offices of the Nation, is the Security of tlie Mo- narchy and the Intercft o{ Monarchy it felf-, we may eafily refle6b how fatal it is when a Prince differs in his Peiiiiafion from the EftahUflfd Religion 5 and one Num. 8. r>6^ S C O U RG E. 5 5 one of that Perfuafion is as little fecurc, if his Minillcrs, with inferiour Officers and Dependents, are of different Sentiments and Inclinations > and whoever wears the Crown of England upon any other than the Old Church of England Principle, will find it veiy uneafie to his Temples ; for not- withftanding the Complements and Vow^s which either Flattery and Intereil may for fomc time oblige them to j yet there are many of the Fa<5lion, if they Hand to their Principles, and could have their own Pleafurc, \jho\\^tC2i Monarchy as much as Heaven abhors a wicked Republican. There is fo ftrickt and mutual a Dependence between the Crown and the Miter, that they muft ftand and fl\ll together > and give me leave farther to add, that we can never expert a quiet State, or continued Peace, without fupporting them both, as they are now by Divine Appointment fettled among us. Whenever a Nation is fo unfortunate as to be divided within it felf, to fall into Parties and Fa- ctions, upon any Account either Ecclefiaftical or Civil, as fome Church-men will be fo defperate as to make themfelves, or fo inconfiderate as to be per- fuaded to be Inftmments o^ Difturbance, fo the Church muft expe6t to bear her Proportion in fuch Diftra6t:ions j yet ftill, if the main Body keeps fteady to it felf, fuch a Referve of Providence will con- ftantly attend her, as though perfecuted^ fie Jh all never be forfaken ^ caft down^ but not dcjirofd : But if fhe forfakes her felf, folds her Arms in a carelefs Defpair, or confults her Peace by uniting with Fa5iion and Schifm > if fhe pulls down her old Walls, her Confeffion of Doctrine, and Canons of Difci- pline, hke the foolifi Trojans^ to let in a Compre- henftve Horfe, full of thofe very Enemies which have ufed all other Means to effed her Ruin > ihe may then properly be faid to be her own Executioner ; E 5 (he 54 The SCOUKG E. Num. 1 {he would then break through aii the Rules of Wif- dom and Government, which always thought it was necedliry that the People ihould conform to the Laws of the Church, never that the Church iliould conform to the Humoin's of the People. Thofe of the Separation^ who are willing to leave then* Faults and their PafTions behind them, to fuch we fhall be gLid to fet our Gates wide open, yet we have no occaiion to pulldown our Walls -^ but if they bring their Errors and their Prejudices along with them, to admit fuch, would be to make them able to a6t more dangeroufly upon us,to fuffer them to enter our Line at Pleafiu'e, and to animate them to perfue their Differences vuth the greata* Violence : The Mercy of God recei^TS none but upon Repentance and Amendment, and why His Church ihould do other- wife, I am yet to learn •, if they will not be the fame with us, let them herd by themfelves, their Room is more acceptable than their Company j and there- fore I always fufpect the Fidelity of thofe, who pre- tend a Zeal for the Churchy and yet court thofe JVcl'ves becaufe they appear in Sheeps Clothing -, lince Matter of i a5i^ and the continued Experience of a hundred Years, have moft fadly affured us, that they could never be obliged by any Kindnefs, nor fatisfied with any Condefcenlion. > Monday Num. 9. 7"^^ S C O U RG E, 55 Monday ^^r/7 i. 1717. / haw not fent thefe "Prophet Sy yet they ran, / have not fpoken to them, yet they pro- phefy^ Jer. xxiii. 21. HAT Learning and Education are very ufeful to impofe a Cheat and an Impoihire upon the World, is fowell known by the Prepyterian Fa^lion^ that in Defiance of the Laws, they fettle a fort of fcandalous Academies and Schools of Philofophy^ to quaUfy Fellows for the Conven- ticle, and to preferve a Succellion of Schifmaticks to Poflerity > they are fenfible Dagon would fall, and that fome fmattering of Leai'ning muft be had, or pretended to, to give a Countenance to the Caufe j and indeed a Uttle of it, with a bold and impudent Addrefs, will go a great way to deceive the Vul- gar : But there are other Se&s, who take no Care about the Education or Commiflion of their Preachers, they leave this Office entirely to their own invincible AfTurance, and the pit>digious Gifts and Endowments of Nature j Univerfities, and Books, and Studying, they fuppofe are fo unne- ccflaiy to make a Minifter of the Gofpel^ that any Lay-Man, or Mechanick, if he finds a Motion within him from the Spirit.^ may leap from behind the Counter, and in a few Minutes, without the E 4 fuper- $6 216^ SCOURGE. NuM.9. fuperilitious Method of iitting twenty Years in a CoUcge, by a powerful Inipiration Ipring up an Apollie, and go forth a Preacher of the Word of God. To juftify this Outrage upon the facred Fundion, they very fmartly produce to us Examples out of ihe Old Tellament and the New : Do not you read, Hiy they, that God call d EHfha from the Plough to he a Prophet ? Does not Ames tell you that he ivas a Herd-man , and a Gatherer of Sycamore Fruit ? Pray^ what were the Apodles ? Were they not Fifher- men^ and calVd from mending their Nets^ to preach the Gofpel? DidChri^i fend for them from the Uni- *verfity c/ Athens? Why thenfhould you limit the free Spirit of God to Perfons of Learning only? And why may not God, if he pleafe, at this time, make choice of fimple unlettered Men, and call them from the Plough, the Stall, or the Shop- board, to be Minifters of his Word, and Teachers of his People? The Bounds of my Paper will not permit me to give a very particular Reply to the Defence of thefe Impofbures 5 but I have room enough to offer what will be a fufficient Confutation j neither would I be underftood, as if my confining my felf to the Men of this Perfuafion, fuppofes that I allow the Ordination of the Prefbyterians to be law^ful and valid, no 5 they are as fanatical, as much Intmders into the prieftly Office, as much Perverters of Scrip- ture as the others > but I mufh defer my Notice of them^ to a more convenient Opportuni ty . In anfwer therefore, I mult confefs, that the fame divine Pov/er as was able to make a Herd-man a Prophet, or a Fifher-man an Apoftle, is as able in our Times alfo to make the meanefb Mechanick one of the greateft Luminaries of the Churchy •but tho' in former Ages the Gifts of God were dilpers'd Num. 9. The SCO U RG E. 57 diipers'd without refpccb of Peribns, yet whether he does this in ours, is very much to be qucllion'd > tor were I to argue this Controverfy with one of thofc Invaders of the Function, I would ask him, what Commiflion he has to ufurp upon the Office? Or who fign'd him his Patent ? He will tell me perhaps, that he is call'd by the fecret Inllinct and Motion of the Holy Spirit , but then I mult ask him farther, how he isalTur'd himfclf ? And what Tcfti monies and Signs he can fhew to perfuade o- thers, that he is thus dilHnguilh'd ? £///7;^ had the Pov;er to make Iron fwim, and knew the private Difcourfes of Perfons in a diilant Country, which was Evidence fufficient that he was call'd to be a Prophet : The Apollles hkcwife had the Power of working Miracles, which infaUibly prov'd the Divinity of their Commillion. Novv^ if any of thefe Men who pretend to the fame Authority can make Iron fwim^ or like EliJJja in another cafe, can tell what the King of S-wedcn fays in his Bed-cham- ber j if, like St. Peter ^ they can cure Difeafcs by their Shadows paffing over them > or like the reil of the ApolHes, who were pcrfe6bly illi- terate, on a fudden fpeak Greek and Latin^ and all the Languages of the Ecift^ I pronounce the Controverfy at an end. And here I muft once more repeat mv foj-mer Queftion, and ask them, by what Signs of the Ho- ly Spirit the World may be fatisfy'd that they ai^e fo call'd ? By what ? V/hy do not you hear them preach, expound Scripture, unfold Prophecies, in- terpret Parables, and fetch Proofs out of the Re- velations ? Can any of your great Scholars, with all the Study of Philofophy, Fathei's, Councils, Schoolmen, either hold your Congregations longer, or fend them away more edify'd ? Aliis ! It mult be confefs'd, to the Reproach of Religion, that thefe Mca 58 y;^^ SCOURGE. Num.9. Men are veiy familiar with the Myfleries of the holy Writings : But does the Spirit of God alTifl Men to give the Lye to himfelf ? Does the Spirit of God afnil Men to expound the Prophets and the Apoflles into Rebellion, Enthufiafm, Murder and Herefy ? Does the Spirit of God infpire Men with Villany, encourage them to ftone us for our Vineyard, and urge Scripture for it j to commit Sa- crilege with prophetical Texts in their Mouths, and with the Cant of "Types and Antitypes^ contrive the Overthrow of Churches and Nations? Has the Spirit of God any thing to do with Men, ex- actly reprefcnted by the Poets^ under the Fidion of one of the infernal Furies^ who afcends from Hell with "a Fire-brand in her Hand, and Snakes on her Head, fcatters War, Treafon and Sedition as fhe pafles j every Hair hurl'd among the People becomes a Mutiny and a Serpent, and eveiy ihaking of her Torch lets Villages, and Towns, and Cities, and Kingdoms, and Empires in a Combuftion ? But if we lliould allow that thefe Ufurpers have the inward Call of the Spirit of God, yet God is fo much the God of Order, that unlefs they entor themfelves into his Service, by fubmitting to the Rites of Confecration, which God has ordain'd in his Church as the Handing Signs of their Calling, every Act of the Miniftiy they perform, is but a Sacrifice like theirs, who offcr'd ftrange Fire be- fore the Lord, and miferably perifh'd by their own forbidden Cenfers. Was not Elijha the Prophet call'd by a vilibleSign? Had not Elijah the Com- mand of God to anoint Elijloa the Son of Shaphat to be a Prophet in his room ? If we look back upon the Levitical Law, we fhall find a very great Care obferv'd in the Ordination of Priefts before they were receiv'd into the facred Function j there were abundance of Sacrifices offcr'd for them 5 they were walh'd Num. 9. The SCO URG E. 551 wafh'd at the Door of the Tabernacle, then the Coat, the Ephod, the Breall-plate, and the Miter were put upon them j and in the lall place followM the anointing Oil that was pour'd upon their Heads ; this was the Confecration of the Prieib of thofe Times. The Ceremonies of Confecration in the New Telkment were different, I confcfs, from thofe of the Old, but yet anfwerable to them -, there was a publick Meeting of the Church, a Prefen- tation of the Perfon to be ordain' d^ folemn Suppli- cations made, that he might become ufeful to the Church j and, as a Seal of the reft, the Impofition of the Bifhop's Hands, ailiftedby the Prefbytei*s. But it may be faid. What is this to the Vo- cation of the Apoftles ? Were not they without the Formality of laying on of Hands, without all this conveying of Orders.^ and the Holy Ghoft by Fingers? What Impofition of Hands went to change St. Peter from a Fifher-man into an Apoftlc ? In anfwer to this, it mufl be own'd that the Apo- ftles were not confecrated to the Miniffry by fuch Rites and Impofition of Hands, as was aftenvards praftis'd in the Church j yet fomething anfwerable went to their Confecration before they were invefted with Authority to preach the Gofpel to the World j for befides their firft Vocation by their Lord, they were endued ijoith Power by the Defcent of the Ho- ly Ghoft 'y and how did he defcend ? In a foft, fe- cret, invifible Perfuafion of the Fancy ? No, in a Yufhing mighty Wind^ which was an audible Evi- dence to the Ear, and fat upon their Heads in the Shape of cloven Tongues of Fire, which was a n:ifible Demonftration to the Eye Hkewife > fo that the Difference between the Admillion of the x-^po- ftles to the Miniftry and others, was only tliis ; In other Confecrations, the Bifhop only granted the 66 The SCO URGE. Num. ^. the Power to preach, but beftow'd not the Gifts, but here the Holy Gholl beftow'd both. Let thefe Men now make it appear that the Holy Ghoft has thus defcended upon them, and furnifh'd them with fuch excellent Accompliihments, I fhould think it the greateft Happinefs of my Life to fee them in our Pulpits, and I profeis my felf to be one of their conftant Hearers. In fhort, when I perceive the HoHnefs and Re- ligion of thefe Preachers confift only in the devout Compofure of their Looks and Deportment, when they choofe their Text out of the Bible, but make the Sermon out of their own Fancy j when they rail at Popery^ and bring Scripture with the Jefuiis for the Butchery of Kings ^ when they ftartle at a dumb Pi(5ture in a W indow, and preach all Difci- pline out of the Church \ let their Countenance be ever fo demure, or the Set of their Band ever fo precife > let them never fo devoutly bewail the Di- vifions of their Country, which they help to make miferable> or let them weep never fo pailionately over the Congregation which they have broken into Faftions > how feemingly holy, how unpro- fane foever their Behaviour be j tho' Scripture over- flow in their Mouths, tho' they never eat, nor drink, nor fpeak, but with a whining fanciify'd Tone 'y yet they are ftill Cheats and Enthufiafts, a Scandal to Religion, and dangerous to Society; they break violently into the Sbcepfold^ and ftand upon Record in the Book of God, as Hirelings^ I'hieves^ and Robbers. Monday ifuM.io. r/&^ SCOURGE. 6t Monday ^pril 8. 1 7 1 7. The Spirit fpeaketh exprejly, that in the latter T>aysfome pall depart from the Faiths gi- ving heed to feducing Spirits and T>o£frines ofDevilsy fpeakingl^Ks in Hypocrify, ha- ving their ConfciQnccs fear' d with a hot Iron-, I Tim. iv. i, 2. ^^KvK|*HEN the Loyalty of the Church of ^vi^^® 1 % England had rcilor'd King Charles the l?f)^0 i: Second to his Dominions, all the Be- *lei^^^« nefices, and the whole Revenues of the •ft«>s«v>R.'-v« Epifcopal Clergy were in the Hands of the diflenting Faction 3 an abandon'd Party, that had deftroy'd a mofl: flourifhing Kingdom, mur- der'd their Sovereign, fported with Oaths, and fandtify'd Treafon and Vilkny w^ith the moll fo- Icmn and unheard of Perjuries ! Yet fuch was the Tendernefs of the Government to thofe religious Vermin^ that they had the Privilege of continuing in their Preferments, if they would turn their Cloaks^ and oblige themfelves to conform to the Common-Prayer, and the Rites and Ceremonies of our Liturgy > a Condition fo eafy to mofl of them, that it was immediately embraced ^ and rather than relinquilh their Interell, they pay'd an outward Submiffion to the Laws, fubfcrib'd to the Aci of Uniformity^ and comply'd generally with the Ser- vice 6z The SCOURGE. Num. ift vice and the publick Form of our Worfhip. But the Leopard could never change his Spots^ there was 2i Fanatick C^;^^^r at the Heart 5 andrho'thefe Caterpillars devour'd and Hv'd upon the Patrimony of the Church, they endeavour'd to poifon the Pa- rent that fed them, and were always contriving the Dignity and Advancement of the Conventicle. There was a great many of this fort of Divines who ffill enjoy 'd the Pulpits in this City, Avhere they would often aflemble to carry on the good old Caufe^ and hold private Meetings, in order to introduce again the lame Confufion of Affairs that juft before had fo fatally extinguiih'd the Glory ot the Eng- lijh Nation. A Cavalier of thofe Days has oblig'd Poflcrity with an Account of the Proceedings that were ufually tranfa6i;ed in thofe clofe Committees, and left us, in a humorous Way, fome of thofe Laws and Refolutions agreed upon in that Convention of Hypocrites^ with a Defign to let the World into the Secret of their Principles, to caution the Peo- ple of their pious Frauds, and to beware of their Dclufions. It may not be unacceptable to tranfcribeaPart of them in the fubfequent Order. Upon the Twentieth of the fixth Month, com- monly caird Augiift^ it was order'd that the follow- ing Petition be prefented to his Majefty. * T II* 7 H E R E A S we are many, and our Party V Y 'is ftrong and conliderable for their In- ' tercll with God and Man, as you would enjoy * Peace and Tranquility in your Kingdoms, or any * Quiet in your Throne, we muft intreat you to ' • let us do what we pL-^afe, and to fet yovir fclf un- ' der the Laws, and Us above them > and upon * Condition we have what we delire, your Peti- * tioners Num. I o. The SCO U RG E. 5 j ' tioners ihall pray for you, or elfe you may e'en ' pray for your fclf. ORDER'D, That an officious Lye may be allowable for the Advancement of a holy Caufe. That when there is a holy Cheat to be carry'd on, it be done in the Phrafe of Scripture, for the Caufe of God mufl be always expreis'd in his own Word. That the People be perfuaded that any Pkce is as Holy as the Churchy and that two or three met together in a private Hou(e will do as well as a thoufand in the Congregation. ^ That private Schools be ercfted upon the common Charge, to inftruft our Youth in our old Commomjoealth Principles^ and to oppofe thofe fcandalous Places call'd the Univerfities of this Land, which have been always fam'd for their Loyalty to Kings j for which Rcafon we farther ordain , That if any Member of our Academies mentions the word Monarch in a refpectful Scnfe, he ihall have his Cloak ilript over his Eai's, and be expeird the Society. That we, upon all Occafions, intreat the Lord to truft us with the Sword cnce more, and to u- nite all thofe that fear the Lord againll the com- mon Enemy, that is, the Church and the Govern- ment. That we return our Thanks to the Honourable Women of this City, who have robbed their Hufbands of their Plate and Money, and havepro- mifcd to aflift us with themfehes and their Fortunes. T|iAT the Sum of Twelve Thoufand Pound be gathered among the Brethren, to gxiXiEtiht Right Honour able and TVell-affe^ed^ v/ho own tlie Caufe of 64 The SCOURGE. Num. io. of God in Court and ParUdment 5 and that it fhall not be called a Bribe, but the humble Acknowledg- ment that the People of God make to the Honou- rable Perfonages that ftand in the Breach at fuch a Time as this. That no one be admitted a Lefturer into any of our Churches, unlcis he wears a black Cap, with a (white one under it j unlefs he can whine a Quarter of an Hour before Sermon, without men- tioning either King or Bifhop, and has four Ah Lord's^ and fix Sighs in the Space of a Minute. That 'sca^ Anabaptifl^ Independent^ Prefbyterian Son of the Church, may have the Liberty of our Pulpits upon Demand. That two adive Perfons be cmployM to obfeiTe all the Failings of the State, and report them to a Committee appointed to improve and aggravate them, efpecially by engaging the People in Con- fcience againil the Government, and in Pailion a- gainil: the Governours. That the Faithful may lawfully /:^ that they may ufc what Pofture they pleafe j they may fet down for the Eafe of their tender Confciences when the Church commands them to ftand 5 and while the Wicked are at their Devotion, they may feed upon the Crumbs vf Comfort^ or they may lleep, and fay with the Spoufe, / Jleep^ but my Heart wakethy 'till they are awaken'd by a Soul-fearching, and Sin- ner-roufing Sermon. That an £i'cv;i;?^ Z^^//r^ be founded, as an Ac- knowledgment to the holy Sifterhood of this City, who have promised to raife among themfelves the Sum of one thoufand, two hundred, fifty one Pounds, three Shillings and four Pence, without their Hufbands Knowledge > befides other whole- fome Num. 10. 21^^ SCOURGE. es fbme Tokens of their Love and Kindncfs > and that the holy Maids and faithful Widows be iHrr'd up to many the faithful Brethren now under Per- fecution^ after the Example of the Apoflles, who led about Sifters for their Wives. That the following Table of Parifh Duties be fix'd up in the Veftry of every Parilli Church, as a ftanding Rule for the well-afFected Inhabitants, and the Minifter. For every Funeral Sermon, to a godly and con- fiding Preacher, lliallbe given five Pounds, with a C/^^i and Mourning, whether the Party can afford it or not. To a Church o^ England Minifter, for the Ufe of the Pulpit, ten Shillings in Brafs half Crowns, ^ with a Pair of Sheep-fkin Gloves, fentby a Poiter. For every Burial without Common-Prayer, twenty Shillings. For a Burial with Common-Prayer, a Shilling and a Sprig of Rofemaiy . \ For baptizing without the fuperftitious Sign of the Crofs, and without Godfathers and Godmo- thers, twenty ShilHngs, half a Dozen of white Gloves, and an Invitation to the GofUping. For the ufual Baptifm, nine Pence. For churching a Woman after the Form of the Church, four Pence > but for giving Thanlcs for her Delivery in a long Prayer after Sermon, five Shillings, and a Sunday's Dinner. To every moderate Minifter, who w^ll com- ply with the Tendernefs of his People, and give them the Sacrament fittings ten Shillings > but if he does not require them to come up to the Popijh Rails, but wait upon them in their own Proteftant Pews, twenty Shillings, and two Quarts of Tent. F For 66 Th SCOXJKGE. Num. lo. For marrying without a Ring, a Mark, and a Pair of fring'd Gloves, with an Invitation to crave a Blefling upon the W edding Dinner. For a brotherly vifiting of the Sick, or difturb'd either in Body or Mind, ten Shillings, and a Pre- fent to the Minifter's Wife > but if the Epifcopal Prieft of the Pariih will needs force himfelf upon the Brethren or Sifters, let him have a Glals of Wine, a Pipe of Tobacco^ and a grinning God b'w'ye, good Mr. Parfon. Sign'd, Adoniram Bifieldy Ckrkof the Committee. MoNDATf Num. I i: Tl?^ S C O URG E, 6> ' k7 ^ "'- i^ ^^:' ^ -J^ i^'- >:^;' •••>- % #^ -^^ -^ # •:'ii' -^-i^- t>* -i^ "# '^ "iJ^ '^1^ -^^ -^ -^^ Monday Jpril if. 1717. F^^r God and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change j Prov. xxiv. 2 1 . 44tf It^tl" ^ would be a Crime to conceal the %-'^*^^^^% following Letter that fome kind Si^ I ^$ Correfpondent was pleas'd to fend me : "^^i^l^MX I can afllire the World, it gives us a 4i^^t^H^ juft Ideaof the Principles and Purfuits of the Dijfenting Fa^iont, and the S:y]e of it is fo perfectly Chriftian and fincere, that it cannot fail to pleafe and inlh*u6t the Reader. It was written in the Reign of King Charles 11. by a Perfon of Quality who refided in France^ and direfted to a Prejhyterian Teacher, to reclaim him, if poilible, from his Hypocrify^ and to reconcile him to the Church. Sir, I Cannot but freely confefs^ that I am^ ftnce my Travels^ become ten times a greater Lover of our own Churchy and as many times a greater Hater and Detefler of the Romifh Churchy than I was before. AND therefore I cannot here dijfemble the hearty Grief I have concciifd^ for the great Hopes you have that his Majejly will allow an imiverfal Toleration, F z a Li- €i fhe S COURGE. Num. i i, a Liberty "which the Roman Catholicks (efpecially the Priejls) do hope and wijh for as well as you j they deftre nothing more than fuch a Taleration, kno'wing it muft needs tend to the Ruin of the Church of England, which is the principal Butt of all their Envy and Alalice y as being the main Support and Credit of the Reformed Religion every whercy and the only Hedge againfl Popery it felf^ in our unfor- tunate Britiiii Ifies. WE meet with not a few Priefls of feveral Or^ derSy that have the Confidence (in our mofi familiar Conferences) to tell us^ that by the jufi Judgment of God upon our Church, the Time of her Ruin is at hand: The Nation it felf being overfpread with ^chifm and Atheifmy and the Hearts of the Faith- ful being difpofed by the Spirit and Providence of G&dy to re-embrace the holy Catholick Truth : j4nd therefore they freely confefsy that this Time of Di- Jira6iion is their Harvefi 5 and withal exprefs their Intentions and Zeal to tranfport themfelves inta Eng-^ land at the critical Time of Toleration,- that they may be Fellow- Labourers with your [elves in that Harvefi. They feem to lament as muchy and com^ plain as fafiy of the prodigious Increafe of Schifm and Atheifm amorig usy as you are wont to do of the daily Growth of Atheifm and Popery. AND whilfi you both complain alike^ and in the ■ Formality of your Complaints both alike refleU upon the Church of England, it is fhe only that is the Suf- ferery and fhe only that truly laments the Growthy and at the fam: time fets up Banks to hinder the perfeEl Inundation of all the Three among us. AS for Schifm among Proteftants, Tou were the firfi Fathers.^ and continue the chief Encouragers of . it } all the inferlour Se6ts having fprung from you, and dividing both from you, and one anothery un^ der Pretence of the fame Reafonsy for which you pro- Num. II. T-^^ S C O U RG E, 69 fefs to divide from the Church. And' tis from yon that even the Quakcring Seel it felf (the Dregs of Schifm) have learrCd to talk of Illumination, and the Spirit. If the Refo^'m'd Church of England (from which you wilfully divide^ and to which^ by your Di- vifions^ you caufe fo much Scandal abroad^ and Evil at Home) be not a Schifmatical Churchy that isy a Church which requires fome finful Conditions of Communion j in what a woful Condition will your unpeaceable feditious Spirits appear before the God of Peace ^ And how will you anfwer that at the Tribunal of his Wifdom and Jujiice^ which neither your Fathers, nor you, could ever yet anfwer to thofe Infiruments of his Glory, Judicious Hooker, and the Venerable Sanderfon ? B Ul^ whether you are Schifmaticks, or whether you are not^ the Separations, which you and your Brood have made from the Church, are the appa- rent Caufe s of the Growth of Popery j and both your Separations, and your fuperftitious enthuftafiicalWay of worfhiping that God, (whofe People you empha- tically pretend to be) are the true Caufe s of that abun-, dant Atheifm, which at prefent makes England an Afionifhment^ and a Scandal to foreign Nations. BLf'T befides the Schifm ^;^^ Enthufiafm j the bloody Wars, which you formerly made in the^XzXJt^ under Pretence of the Glory of God, and the Re- formation of the Rcform'd Religion, have given many inconfiderate Men occajion to fufpecl^ that all Reli- gion, like that of mofl of your Leaders^ is but a politick Engine^ which Men ufe to make themfelves popular and powerful 'y that they may afterwards a5f^ with good Colour whatfoever their Interefi pall AND furthermore to conftder\ That the great Pretenders of the Spirit, and Power of the Chriftian Religion (whicb^ with refpeB to Magiftrates^ teach- F 3 eth 70 T/^e SCOV RGE. Num. i i , etb nothing hut to obey or fuffer) JJoould not with- flanding preach up Rebellion againft their lawful Prince 'y fight him from Field to Field y remo've him fro7n Prifon to Prifon^ and at laft mofi harharoufly put him to Death j is fuch an Ahfurdity againft the Principles of right Rcafon, fo repugnant to the Laws of our own Nation^ and fo inconfiftent with the peace- able DoBrine of the Gofpel > that hefides the Atheifts it hath made^ it hath^ and ever will conftrain Men of honeftVriXiCv^^% and juft K.e[cntmtnts^ to profe- cute you with Satyrs and Exclamations to the end of the World. / am confident I do not unjuftly charge you in any Particular^ efpecially with the Murder of the King. For there were no Acceffories in the Murder of that facred Perfon > neither was it the laft Stroke only that feird the Royal Oak ; hut you and the Independents, like the two facrilegious Pr lefts ^/Jupiter, are equally guilty of the Crime > the one for hinding the direful Vi6tim5 and the other for putting the Knife to his Throat. BUT to he ftoorts where I am fo unacceptable^ Til conclude my Argument with a Fable. A prin- cipal Ship^ which for many Tears had been Sove- reign of the Seas^ was at laft attacked by a tempef- tuoiis iVind^ which the Devil rais'd-, and notwith- ftanding all the Help that could be made to fave her^ was driven by the Force of that malignant Wind, and fplit upon a Rock. The very fame Fnftant fhe dafto'd upon the Rock^ the Wind ceas'dy and being afterwards curs' d by the Sea-men^ for the Wreck of the Royal Charles, (for fo the capital Feffel was calVd) anfwefd^ Tou charge me mo ft unjuftly^ my Friends > it was not /, but the Rock, as you fawy that fplit your Ship. THE Moral of this Parable is very obvious ; and if the Application thereof^ or any thing elfe that I have NtTM.ii. r^i? SCOURGE. 71 / ha've ivritten^ may conduce to awaken your Con- fcience, and reclaim you from Schifm, I Jhall think my Pains well hejtow'd. But if you and your fcdi- tious Brethren will fiill perfez'cre to ajjault the Church on om hand^ ^s faft as the Romifh Priefts do undermine her on the other^ her Days are like to he but few and evil-, and except God incline the Hearts of our Magiilratcs to put the Laws in Exe- cution againft them, and find fome effectual Means fo reduce you, you may live to fee her Ruin accom- ^UJh'd^ which you both alih de fire and expeEl. HO JV numerous you are^ the World can guefs j /ind if the Account which we receive from the Fathers of Intelligence in the Romifh Church be credible^ there are a prodigious Number ofEmiJfaries who find Entertainment and Succefs in our Nation. But in the mean timc^ ''till her Hour is come^ fin ftruggletb againft both^ like her Saviour againft the Pharifees, whofe true Difci'ples in part you both are : They re- prefenting thofe [worn Enemies of the GofpeJ^ by their ridiculous and impious Traditions j and you repre- fisnting them in their Hypocrify, Pride, Envy, Evil- fpeaking, morofe and cenforious Difpoiitions j as like wife in obferving many Fafts, and making long Prayers, with Deftgn not to ferve God, but to de- lude the People. And therefore J wonder not that you are fuch malignant Enemies to the Church of England, fincethat Pharifaical Spirit^ which reign- eth fo much among ft you^ is a wicked pufillanimous Spirit^ that affects to be feen in the Head of Parties, and dictate among ft the Ignorant j and loves as much to Rule as it hates to Obey. BUT' would you once be fo fincere^ as fo fubdue your Pride 5 lay afide your Prejudice j inform your Ignorance, and for fake your dearly belov'^d Interelt for the Truth, it would not be long e'er we fijould fie you joyn with the Church of England, without F 4 troubling 7z r>&^ SCOURGE, NuM.ir- irouhling our Senators to bring you in with any A6t of Comprehenfion. TO U R Pride appear eth in heading of Parties, and in the Pleafure you are feen to take in the Mul- titudes that run after you -, and in your Boafting^ that without you, the Souls of People would ft arve for want of Knowledge. 70 U R Prejudice is an EffeEl of your Pride, and difcovers it felf together with your Ignorance, in not fubmitting to thofe invincible Reafons which you cannot anfwer. AND as for your Interell, the great eft Para- dox of all^ that is evident enough to me^ who have fo often heard many of you glorify your felves in the Number and Riches of your Followers, boaft of their AffeUion to your facred Perfons^ and brag of the great Sums you have colleUed in your Congre- gations 'y which makes the King's Chapels (as you arrogantly call your Conventiclesj better Places tharp mo ft of the Churches of which he is Patron. And therefore never complain that you live either worfe^ or at greater Uncertainties than you did before. FOR by your Pretenftons t o VovcYty and Suffer- ings, and by other unworthy Arts, you have zvr ought your felves into the Efteem of your Difciples, that few of them are either fo covetous or fo poor, but they will pinch at home to fupply you. "THE R E are fever al Orders of Francifcans here^ who have got ^ like you j fuch faft hold on the Souls of the People^ that they can eafily make moft of them difpofe of their Children, cafheer their Servants, and fettle their Eftates as they pleafe y and by thefe bricks do more effectually promote the Intereft of Rome, than all the Pariili Prielb within the Pak of that Church. ' AND 7-eally^ when I conftder what Influence thefe fan^imonious and felf -denying Zealots have o'er all Num. II. The SCOURGE. 7j all Families in all Places where they livej it snakes me often run the Parallel between you and thetnj and think what a politick and gainful Pretence yoic have got to renounce your Livings for to fccure your Confciences, and to preach the Word like the Pri- mitive Apoftlcs, when God knows "'tis not out of Love to the People, hut to your felves. IN vain you complain of the Pnrmorality^ or the loofe Behaviour of the Epifcopal Clergy > a wife and fiber Alan would make no Inference from the Mifmanagement of particular Perfons^ but this^ I'hat Corruptions will creep into Government, notwith- fianding all the Care that can he us^d to the contrary j and that by the Favour of Princes (who hear with other Mens Ears, and often receive undeferv''dChz'' ra^bers of Men) fimetimes ambitious, fimetimes ig- norant, and fimetimes flothful, imprudent , or de- bauched Perfons^ will he preferr^l to the mofi honour- able Dignities in the Church : But this^ as often as it happens^ is the Mifery of the Church of England, which ^///r^^ Church-men lament -y though the Men of the Short-Cloak take all fuch Occafions to expofe her to the Scorn of the common People^ who judge by ScnCe and not by Reafonj and who are taught by you to make no Difiin^ion between the Clergy and the Church. BUT were all her Bifhops the befl ChrifHans, the befi Scholars, and the befi Governours in the World -y andfhould the Royal Hand place her Miters on the Heads of none but Perfons of the ?nofi illu^ firious AccomplifJnnents^ yet that unchriftian Spirit of Envy and Difcontent^ which informs the Bofim of a Fanatic, would fiill fly upon her with open Mouthy like Beafts upon the Saints of old condemned to the Amphitheatre > and make her^ asflje hath al- ready been for a great many TearSj a Spedlacle to God, to Angels, and to Men. THE 7+ TheSCOUKGE. NuM.ir. T'HE wicked Lives^ or the loofe Principles of fcandalous Bijhops and Priejls^ if there he anyfuch^ are the fad Misfortunes of our Church j but cannot jufiify the Schifm you are guilty of^ who are hound to hear evenxhcm^ as much as the Jews were hound to hear the Scribes and Pharifees, thofe Hypocrites that fat in MofesV Chair. IF either this^ or any thing elfe^ athoufandtimes better than I am able to write, may prove effe6iual to reclaim you from Schifm, / fl^all be as glad, as to fee fome of your own Perfuafion reformed from Drunkennefs, Swearing, and Uncleannefs, which are 'very grievous and dreadful ^m.^, hut yet not more damnable in their Nature, nor more deftruEiive to the Chriftian Religion, nor more deeply rooted in the Soul of Man, than that of Sehifm, From which I fray God by the Power uf his Grace to preferve me, and reform you, through JefusChrift our Lord, to 'whofe Protection I commit you, and refi YdUr moft Affedionate Coufin, and Humble Sei*vant. MONDAy Num.12. 716^ SCO urge. 7$ Monday j^prii 22. 1 7 1 7. Be-iZ'are of the Leaven of the Pharifees, ^-johich is Hypocrify; Luke xii. i. F it be the Eiireft Method of Argu- ment to reafon from Effects to Caules, we want no other Evidence to alTure us of the Dangers we are exposed to by the DiJ]}nting Rabble^ than unde- niable Matters of Fact, and the continu'd Proof of feveral Generations, who have been convinced with a witnefs, what Confufion they cany in their Opi- nions, and how their Aftions have been a con- ftant Plague to Religion and the publick Security of Mankind. But above all, I am obHg'd to cau- tion my Fellow Subjcfts againft that Myllery of Sin, called Pr^/Z'j'^^r)' j a fanctified Crocodile, fifh'd up, by an Apollate Rebel, out of the Lake of Ge- Mva > carried through the greatefl part of Europe over a Sea of Blood > tranfported at laft into Scot- land -y and from thence, with a Cloak upon her Back, and a drawn Sword in her Hand, fhe came along with the Northern Army into England^ and there difcharged her Poifon, and fpent her Fury upon this diH:ra6i:ed Kingdom. And here it may be proper to obfei-ve, that whenever tlie Siias of the 76 Tiie SCOUKGE, NuM.12. the old Hebrews were ripe for Deflruftion , they were always punillied by a Nation fierce and fcat- ter'd, that came from the North^ as if the Ah-nigh- ty had fixed his Magazine of Vengeance in that Quarter of the Eaith, and laid up his Divine Ar- tilleiy there, as a Scourge for the other Divifions of the World. This new Light of the Gofpel^ how bright fo- ever it appeared, hung over us as a Comet, that did not only prefage , but moil dreadfully produce Sedition, Murder and Sacrilege 5 which methinks were enough to make the greateft Fanatick fall heartily to his Litany, and pray, Good Lord deliver us : If this be Religion, fit anima mea cum Philo- fophis^ let my Soul be among the Philofophers, thofe virtuous Heathen, who obey'd the Diredions of Reafon, and lived to what they knew : I make no queftion, but the Hell of the fober Indicin will be far more tolerable than a Heaven of thefe Men can poffibly be , without Reformation and Repen- ' tance. Had fome Ages paft, fince the late horrid Re- volutions, one might imagine fuch fpecious and plaufible Delufions might prevail again, and the conceal'd Mifchief proceed undifcover'd : But when the Blood is fcarce dry upon the Sand where the Royal Tragedy was a6ted 5 when the Scars of thofe inteftine Wounds are red and vilible, and the Afhes of our former Fires are ffcill fmoaking with glowing Embers, one can fcarce tell how to judge otherwife, but that thofe Engineers, who pour on the fame combuilible Materials, mull be defirous to re-kindle thofe devouring Flames, and defign to repeat thofe unexampled Villainies that were carried on by the fame gradual Progreili- ons, the fame Cant of Confcience and Religion, the fame Expoltulations with God, apd Pleas of Providence, Num. 12. 7*^^ S C O U RG E. 77 Providence, as are now founded in the Eai'S of the People, and gilded over with the fame folemn Prote- ftations. It is with the greatefl Regret that I dwell upon (o unpleafant a Subject, and could I anfwer it to my Country, I ihould avoid raking in fuch a Sink of Iniquity > but muft Abfalom be gently dealt with, becaufe he was a//^ri)/ Rebel ? ThePra6tices of the Se6t are engraven in fuch Bloody Characters, and their prefent Puifuits fo juftly awalcen our Fears, that we have the greateil Occalion to fufped they are Brewing a fecond Draught to intoxicate the Peo- ple, to transform them again into Beads of Prey, in order more effedually to worry our Eftablim- ment, to devour the Revenues of the Clergy, and gorge themfelves with the very Vitals of our Church. If Men were not in a Lethargy, andfungafleep by the Hypocrify of thofc Seducers, it were im- pofTible, but their Defigns fhould perfe6bly bedif- cover'd : How Paflionately do they wifh that the Kingdom may be the Lord's, and the Saints may rule the World ? How tenderly , and with what a feeling Kindnefs will they mention the Tranf- aftions of a late Age, which is If ill the Darling of their Memories ? Oh the happy Days, when there was no King in Ifrael ! but every iVIan had Liberty of Confcience^ and did that which was right in his own Eyes ! O that iweet and precious Day ! that dear Liberty of Confcience^ when there was no King , no Bifhop , no Penal Laws , no Tell , no Schifm A6ts, but the Gofpel ran on couragioufly. Conquering and to conquer ! that is, when Club- Law, and the Law of the Sword, put them out of danger of the Sword of the Law, and the Execu- tion of Jullice. Let thefe Men now, with their ufual Diflimu- lation, deny this Charge? let them pretend never fo much 7^ r;&^ SCOURGE. NuM.ii. much Innocence, all the World ihall not perfuade me, 'till I am tm*ned to Grafs like a Brute, and have no more Reafon than a Fanatick^ but that they arc the Childi'en of thofe that killed the Prophets, by the great Zeal they exprefs to build Monuments over them, that is, to bury the prefent Church and Eftabliihment in everlafting Oblivion. Let the Government iliine hot upon this feemingly harmlefs and frozen Snake, and it will immediately hifs in the very Face of it, and mortally fling the Bofom that warm'd her : Dehver up but the Reins of Power into the Hands of thefe weak Brethren^ and they will grow ftrong in an inftant , and never refign the Whip, 'till they have fet the Axle-Tree of the State on Fire : Let the Lion draw in his Claws, and cover them with the fofteft Hair, I will ftill be upon my Guard s and however thefe Hypocrites may profefs to abhor the Pra6l:ice of their Anceflors, they may as well attempt to per- (liade me into a Conventicle , as to impofe fuch a monilrous Abfurdity upon my Faith : Thofe very Men faid the fame, and appeared all Holinefs, and in the Simplicity of Angels, and their Pojierity fraife their Saying : Do we not obferve the fame Principles inftill'd into the Populace, the fame Schifmatical Libeb difperfcd, and the Seeds of Divifion as plentifully fown among us ? Which, without the Prevention of Providence, muft ripen into a fatal Harveft, and overfpread our Conftitu- tion 'y 'till at lall, torn and divided, the Church of England becomes a ghaftly Speftacle to all Be- holders. I dare not believe, I confefs, that the \^hole Body of Dijfenters^ who are indulg'd a Freedom in our Nation, would willingly fee the Confufion of their Native Countiy > nor do I think that the whole Party are manag'd by Intereft, or guilty of Hypo- JjuM. 12. r>&i? S C O U RG E. jg HypocrifiCi I would rather fuppofe it to bean Incapacity to diTcover the Dangers that ai'e clofely conccal'd by the Gunning Leaders of the Fad^ion ; but I can aflure them, whillt they wonder and gaze at the Tinfcl and painted Finery of thefc Impojiors^ they ftand upon a Precipice, and vainly imagine their Shepherds are carefully leading them to the Pafture , when they ai'e going directly with them to the Slaughter. But however the deluded Multitude may be impofed upon, it is certain, that the Heads of the Separation have been ever obfeiT'd to be fubtle and deligning Men : They have Learning enough to know, that Schifm is a damning Sin, and Wicked- nefs enough , with the moft hardened Impudence, to deny it> which makes me think fometimes, that the only QuaUfication for a DifTenting Minifter of the Gofpel^ is to be a profound Atheifi^ ta facrifice his Confcience, and give up all the Prin* ciples of Religion and the Belief of a future World : How elfe can we account for fuch notorious Pre- varications, when I dare be confident there is not a Preacher among them, but is fenfible enough of his own Hypocrifie, and knows that every Pro- (elyte he feduces from the Church is the farther rcmov'd from the Way of Life, and bids fair for eternal Ruin. It is the Pride of thefe Wretches which mofl fatally keeps open our Breaches : Ambition is a Vice as natural as Self-love, and Men take a fecrct Pleallire to be diflinguifh'd from the reft of their Fcllow-Creacures. Had thefe Vagrant Divines been truly pious and obedient Sons of the Church, 'tis certain their Accomplilhments would never have canied them above a very indifferent Share in her Perferments > at leaft they muft have gone sJong in the common Crowd, and it may be, never have 8d 77je SCOVKG E. Num. i z: have been obfei-v'd : But now one of thefe Bubbles fills a whole City or Countiy with his own Froth and Noife 5 barters his infejtcd Breath for ready Money, draws Difciples after him, and malces them pay through the Nofe for curing the Let- cheiy of their Ears. How far this Confideration may tranfport an ambitious Mind, let the Epbefiafz Villain tellify , who for the fake of Fame burnt down the Temple of Diana^ that was one of the Wonders of the World j and it were happy if the {ame Madnefs, or a far greater Impiety, did not |)ofle{s thefe Men, who throw the Fire-brands of Diflention into our Church, the Temple of the Living God J founded by his only Son, and of which he himfelf is the over-fhadowing Cupalo^ and Corner-Stone. It was the Glory of the LAST REIGN to curb the Infolence of this afpiring Fadtion, to vin- dicate the Honour of Religion from Defign and Enthufiafm, to limit the End of our Divinons to the prefent Generation of Dijffenters^ and to pre- vent the Infedion fi'om taking hold of Pofterity i and we are confident our prefent Governours will ihine as bright in the Records of Hiflory, by fol- lowing that Illuftrious Example : But if Proviaence be refolv'd to vifit us for our Sins, if fuch a mix'd Multitude fhould be only chained up for a Time, that they may gather Strength, and run more fierce- ly upon our Religion, Learning and Laws 5 fuch an Inundation of Ruin and Confufion mull over- fpread the Land, as we fhall refemble nothing but the Inhabitants of the Ark, in which only a few Men were permitted to refide among the Beafts. Monday Num.13. The SCOURGE. 8i Monday April 19- ^7^7- Believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits, whether they are of God : becaufe many falfc Prophets are gone out into the World s Jolin iv. I. H E Prefbyteriau Diffenter in this Age is the exad Copyof theOldi)^//;^////, a precife Schifmatick , who under a Pretence of Purity , and a more in- fpir'd Knowledge, divided from the Churches of Africa^ and fcparated from them, as a Saint of a higher Form, and of a more raifed and elevated Devotion > and is not our Modern Fanatic k continually telling us of a more refilled and hea-venly Way , of purer Ordinances , and more £i;/3/;^^//V^/Adminiflrations5 branding our Liturgy^ as a dead unedifying Letter, clogg'd w^ith Cere- monies, and mix'd and blended with the Inventions of Men ? This is not the fmalleft Engine the Se^ flarifi makes ufe of to undermine our Foundations, and to render the moll folemn Service of our Church contemptible and ridiculous. The Eftabliili'd Form of our Worihip he reproaches as a flat and fpiritlefs Devotion, tho' deriv'd from the Words of Scrip- ture, and defended by the Pradice of the Apo- ftoHck Age, and ftamps the Authority of the Holy Ghoft upon the wild Raptures of his own diftradbed G Brain, *2' Tk SCOVKGl, Num. 15. Brain, and calls the extempore Effufions of a dif- 0^der*d Fancy, by the facred Names of the In- fpirings of Heaven, and the moft Divine Illumi- nations. , No Stratagem whatfoever has brought more Profelytes to the Diflenting Caufe , than this Im- pofture of Praying by the Spirit > for how Soul- laving, how Sin-confounding muft that Man be^ who can hold you forth for Hours together off- hand, without the dull Method of Reading out of a Book, or having fo much as an Inch of Paper before him, but fluently and floridly entertains his Audience, draws Tears from their Eyes, touches them to the very Heart, and difmifles them in the profoundeft Silence, all over Sorrow, and in the mofl folemn Poilures of Repentance ? But how great foever may be the Applaufe this hlafphemous Apoflate procures to himielf by im- pofing upon the Ignorance of his People, I am perfuadcd, would any Man of his Congregation, who has but a moderate Share of Underllanding, take upon him the Trouble to obferve for a few Days the Deportment of the Preacher ^ and the Method of his Devotion, he will have abundant Rcafon to confefs, that what the Wretch wickedly lathers upon the Afliftance of the Spirit, depends entirely upon his own Artifice and Management j that his A6tions are the moft punSlual znd fet^ and his Prayer no more than a rude indigefted Colleftion of Cant^ Formality^ and Impertinence. Observe at his firft ftepping into the Pulpit, how he always fits the Cufhion to the moft com- modious Pofture for the Eafe of his Elbows > and becaufe he gets his Living by the Sweat of his Brows , pulls out a folded Handkerchief, which he gravely places upon his Right Hand > then he gives his Uncanonical Cloak a twitch or two j or if the Num.13. 57:^^ scourge. g^ the Weather be hot he lays it afide, that he may not appear lazy by Thrcihing in his Cloak ^ and that his Audience may perceive he is beginning to begin, he rolls his Eyes about as if he was fall- ing into a Trance, and at laft gently recovers him- felf into his Prayer : Obfcrvc how faintly he enters with a low Voice, a languifhing Tone, and a foft and deliberate Utterance, which advances higher, and higher, 'till at length his Zeal being throughly warm, hke a Pot with too much Fire under it, the Scum of his Brains boils over, and he tumbles out his Thoughts with fuch F^uiy and Precipi- tation, that one Word treads upon the Heels of another : It is not material whether his Expreflions be decent and fignificant, fo long as they are paf* donate and vehement -, and at every third or fouith Sentence (to help the Pump) as loud as he is able, an importunate Lord! Lord! at which the Peo- ple ai*e ftrangely melted into Groans and Tears, that are underftood as the fpiritual Hums and P/^«- dites of the Conventicle, and fignify that the Man comes off veiy well in a6ling his Part upon that Religious Theatre. And notwithftanding the pretended Averfion of this factious Divine, to pray by a Form^ I muft let the World into the Secret, and acquaint them that there is a little Book call'd the Gift of Prayer j by the Afliflance of which he deHvers himfelf in as much Form as it is poflible y only now and then he cunningly tranfpofes his Words, puts Almighty before Eternal^ turns the Infide outward, and the Forefide backward j and that without the leafb new Invention of his own \ and with the Help of a few Scriptural Expreffions, thrown about at random, he plays upon the Simplicity of his Hear- ers, who firmly believe the Man infpired, and a6led by the immediate Influence of the Spirit of God, G i This 84 The SCOIJKGE, Num. i i. This is the great Myftery of Extempore Prayer^ an Art very eanly to be acquired, which any Fel- low, by a little Application, and a competent Stock of Impudence, may arrive at, and grow prodigious in j and the ealier will the Secret be obtained, the more Ignorance and AfTuranCe the Pra<^itioiier is attended with> which is the true Reafon why fo many filly Mechanicks , who can hardly fpcak Senfe in common Difcourfe, become fuch wonderful Proficients in the Trade j and the drawing this fpiritual Inkle out of the Throaty is one of the neateft, as well as the moft dangerous Pieces of Legerdemain thefe Jugglers in Religion a:pply, to feduce the Multitude, who are perfuaded they beftow their Attention upon an Angel from Heaven^ when they are led away by the falfe Fire of a crafty Hypocrite and Impoftor. But the more effe&ually to difcover this popu- lar Cheat, let us bring it to the Teft, and tiy it by the infallible Standard of Scripture j there we are forbidden to fpeak much in our Devotion, and we are commanded to pray by a Jhort Form -, an Argument, I am afraid, of little Force with thofe who have fo fmall regard for this facred Rule, that they wou'd laugh at the Formality of their Saviour, to hear him make ufe of his own Prayer. I F Extempore Prayer be always afliiled by the Spirit of God, then thofe who have the Gift of it muft be mov'd and infpir'd by the fame Divine Spirit y which is fuch a Degree of Blafphemy, that makes me Ihrink and tremble. Look back into a Generation or two ago, and tell me whether Saint Oliver and his Army of Saints were a&edby the Impulfe of Heaven j give me your Opinion of Saint Ireton and Saint Bradjhaw^ who were excellent m this Accompliihment ; and what would you have faid to have Uv'd in thofe pious Times, when Num. I ^ 31^^ S C O U RG E. 5:5 when it was as fatal to meet a Bear robb'd of her Whelps, as a Colonel upon liis Knees, and \{\%pray^ ing Legions about him ? It is certain that fomc of the vileft Perfons, and the greatefl: Monfters of Impiety have been moil famous for this Talent of Extempore Prayer. The Hiflory of Afajor /Fere is very common, who Wixs a6lually in League with the Devil, and yet had fuch a Fluency this Way, that he was univerfally admir'd, but could be imi- tated by none that came near him , and will you afcribe the Prayers of fuch a Wretch, compounded of Villany and Witchcraft, to the Spirit of God ? I could bring many Inllances to the fime Purpofe, but I will only add one, fo remarkable, as will fufficiently prove that the Faculty of Extempore Prayer may be fo far from being the Gift of God, that it may be the Gift of Hell -, and that fuch who are almoft under an irreverfible Sentence of Damnation, may have it even in Perfedion. I7ye Story is thus. AT St. Ives in Huntingdon-Jhire^ not many Years ago, there was a Woman whofe Name I do not very well remember, tho' many in that Place very well do y fhc was one of thofe, who for Diflin&ion were call'd Puritans^ a great Fol- lower of the Prefbyterian DoEtrine^ a conllant Fre- quenter of godly Meetings and religious Exercifes ; this Woman came to be fo eminent, efpecially in the Gift of Prayer^ that flie was generally admir'd, and look'd upon as a Saint of the firll Magnitude : The Noife of her Fame, and the Boafts of her Party, brought many Minifters in the adjacent Countries of Cambridge and Huntingdon to heai' her pray-y which {he did in that raviihing Manner, that they never parted from her without an Ex- G 3 cefs $6 r>&^ SCOURGE. NuM.13. cefs of Admiration and Aftonifhment : After fome time, for what rcafon I am not able to determine, this holy Sifter went over into New- England^ as about the fame piTie many others did for Liberty of Confcience j for a while flie was there in the greateft Efteem and Height of Reputation, but the Devil ow'd her a Shame, and ihe became at laft {lifpe6bed and accus'd for a Witch, was brought to a Tryal, confefs'd her Guilt, and that her Con* tract with the Devil was, that i/^ Lieu of her Soul^ ^johich Jke made on:er toh'im^ he Jhould ajjift herewith ihe Gift of Extempore Prayer ^ after which Con- fefHon, Sentence paft upon her, and ihe was ac- cordingly executed as a moft abominable Sorcerefs. MONDAT Num.14. The SCOURGE, «f Monday May 6. 1717. Thefe are MurmurerSy Complainers-, walking after their o-jvn Lujis, and their Mouth fpeaketh great [welling Words ^ having Mens Terfons in Admiration hecaufe of Advantage. Thefe he they who feparate themfelvesy fenfual, having nottheojpirit i Epift. of y//^&(? S C O U RG E. 89 the Lord Cromwel^ in one of his Letters, that the DifcipUnariarts are Men of Whimfy and Enthiifi- afm, and would quickly confound all Order and publick Settlement j that they ought to fcel the Weight of a fevere Correftion, and have the Sword drawn upon them. What cou'd the greateft per- fecuting Jacobite High-flyer have faid worfe ! This is a Moderation he thought due to them j and Cal- vin^ by their own Confeflion, was a Man of great Judgment, and of a penetrating Genius. Nay, he is fo far from indulging fcrupulous Chimera'* s^ or allowing Liberty of Confcience^ that he recom- mends Rigour, requires Subfcription to the Arti- cles of our Religion, and that none fhould be ad^ mitted into an Ecclefiailical Function, without giving folemn Confent to the Doctrines received j he like wife approves the Common- Prayer^ and efteems the Church-Catechifm as a neceflary Expe- dient. I would feign be informed what foreign Church has condemn'd our Liturgy, as Sinful, Antichriftian, or Popifh ? Le Moyne^ Le Angle^ and Mr. Claude^ in their Letters to the late Bilhop of London^ and the Genevians in that to the Univerfity of Oxford^ of a later Date, have entirely condemn'd them for breaking the Unity of the Church. When the Power had been ufurp'd, and lodg'd in the Hands of the Prefhytery^ who exercis'd a more defpotick and tyrannick Sway than themfelves ? They highly oppos'd the "fokration of the Independents^ and thofe who formerly made the greatell Out-cry on Epifcopacy, girt their own upftart Government the clofell; about the Confciences of others . But if the Laws require an Obedience and Conformity from them, what a Pother and a Dull do they raife with their threadbare Jargon of Impofttions^ Offences^ and Toaks upon their Qhriftlan Liberty ? Thus po TheSCOUKG E. Num. i 4. Thus under the Cant of weak and Urider ConfcienceSy they feem to Hght the Beacons of Diforder, and I \viih they do not fire the Kingdom with Diftra- 6tion and Confulion. Good God! that Fancy and Prejudice fhould have fuch Prevalence ! that the Crofs^ the Exultation of the Apftles^ and the Glory of the Primitive ChriHians, fliould create a Schiim in our Ellablifh'd Church ! that a white Veftment fhould be more teniblc than a Spech'e, and our Common-Frayerd\k.^QX£i^ worfe than a C^^w- juring-Book ! I delire to be inftru6ted by thefe Gentlemen of the Order of the Cloak^ what Chriftian Church, for the firir nfteen hundred Years, followed that Scheme of Worlhip they now pracbife ? Or what Community of Chriftians, befides themfelvcs, threv^^ off the Epifcopal Jurifdiftion, ufurp'd the facred Offices, and turn'd Rebels to the Apfiolical College ? God knows, they are as it were, but of Tefierday^ and of Calvin 5 nor had he himfelf either Scripture, Antiquity or Precedent to warrant the facrilegious Attempt j and 'tis very apparent, the CommiJJions he gave out were forg'd^ and the Pref- hytery is a Self- originated Miniftry. They tell us indeed, they agree with us in all the ElTentials of the Chriftian Religion -^ which, by the by, is a Miftake> and that they dilTent from us in Matters, which, in their own Nature are purely indifferent. If the Rife of their Diffatisfaclion be then of that fmall Importance, the more unreafonable and wil- ful are they, to break Chriftian Unity for Matters fo minute and inconfidcrable. But under favour, let them think as indifferently of our Rites and Ce- remonies as they pleafc, when they are conftituted by a Legal Ecclefiaftical Authority, ratify'd and enjoyn'd by the Laws of the Land, that which was before indifferent, alters its Nature, and im- mediately Num.14. 7>&^ scourge. 91 mediately commences Dury^, and tics down to the ilricb Rules of Obedience, not only for PFrath^ but Confcience fake. As forobjedingto us, that our Prayers and Ce- remonies are of Popifi Extraction, it is a frivolous and ridiculous Charge > for what is it we retain of them, let them tell us, befides their Antiquity? And he's no great Mafter in Logick^ who defpi'fcs every thing that is us'd by the Papifts > for what- foever is praife-worthy or commendable, I hope may be put in practice, let who w411 be the Inven- ter of it. A feparate Teacher^ in fhoit, is a fpiritual Sloven^ one that hates Order^ and pukes at Decency > the Surplice, the Babylonifh Ragg'^ gives him a pre- tended fit of the Epilepfy > and none but I'—nd^ one o{ Jeroboam's Calves^ would have compiu*'dit to the Habit of the Priejis of Ifis. It was ordain*d by God to be wore under the Aaronical Priellhood j and I fee no reafon (unlefs they can produce one Text that contradi6ls the wearing of it) why it may not be us'd in the Chrifiian Church j for ilirc to folemn A6tions, fuitable Ornaments are a Beau- ty i and the Primitive Fathers mention it as an At- tire fit for the Clergy > 'tis a Garb the Angels have made ufe of, when they conveyed their Me/Iages to Manldnd, and is no imperfe6t Refcmblance of the Glory beatified Spirits poficfs j and fure, none but blind Zealots would quarrel at the Pai*ity of the Church Militant, with that Triumphant above. It is thefe ill-fupported Scruples, this Mifapplica- tion of Zeal, that breaks the People into Parries, creates Mifunderftanding, and renders the Church ftrangely Un-imiform and Party-colour'd •, for they not only endeavour to deciy, and dilable the 7^/v- hrick^ but they plant Difcord and Confufion in the TOora of it> fo fraftious and wayward are tbev in thcjv 92 r/&^ SCOURGE. Num. 14. their Tempers, that had our Govcriiours ena6ted divine Ser\ace to have been officiated in a black Capj and a Cloak^ they would have been the Sub- jed: of their Contempt, as well as the Surplice. These Warriors againil Heaven, thefe everlaft- ing Sons of Faftion, are the true Reprcfentatives of the M Race of the Ifraelites *, they are not to be pleas'd long, and will murmur and repine in the midft of their Manna : Nay, even at this time, they cannot be content, when they enjoy all the Freedom and Eafe they but formerly wilh'd for j but ftrive, with a reftlefs Impatience, to demoUfh the Out'Works of our Eccleiiaflical Eftablilliment, and beat down the Barriers that our wife Legif-r lators and Patriots have fix'd for her Security. What State can be fecure that will unite with Men of fuch reftlefs and volatile Difpofitions ? For ihould they be gratify'd with the Repeal of the T'eft and Schifm Acls^ we have the greateft Reafon to believe they would ftill be edging farther and far- ther, 'till they had jockey'd their Mafters out of the Saddle, and engrofs'd the Management to themfelves. Sure we muft ftand upon a tottering Bafis, when our Dependance is upon the Support of the Diffenters -, fuch AfTiftance as they will afford us, will be like the Invitation of a fecond Saxon or Danijh Invafton 3 or like Ki?ig John's calling in the Mahometans to his Aid : for cloath them with Power, they immediately gi'ow uppifb and info- lent 3 and if their farther Demands be not (atisfy'd, like fturdy Beggars^ they'll fpurn at their Bene- fa6tors, and fly in the Face of their Creators. I am fenfible 'tis a popular Objedion, that they are a rich^ and a very conftderable Body of People^^ and it is 'very impolitick to difohlige them. If their Al- legiance, like a flying Robe, fets fo loofe upon them, that they muft be brib'd to their Duty, by greater Num. 1 4. TheSCOUKGlb, 9 5 greater Privileges and Places, or elfe they grow lullen, or ftrike out into Rebellion -, I think there \ is very little of confcientious Loyalty to be expell- ed from that Quarter. But are the Favourites of the Church become fo inconfiderable all of a fudden, lo few in Num- ber, as not to deferve the Prote&ion, the Regard, the good Nature of the State? Look into our AfTembhes, furvey what a glorious Armyof Chri- IVians encompafs our Altars 3 we have no occafic«i to hire a licentious Rabble, to Hand like Faggots in our Congregations, that we may appear formi- dable in the Eyes of our Superiors : What a Fi- gure do we bear in the Nation, and what prodi- gious Conquefts have we lately made over the DifTenting World > when our Governours exprels that Efheem for our Eftablifhment as to build us Fifty new Churches out of the publick Revenue pf the Kingdom ? Upon the Whole, I fhall eter- nally be of this Opinion, that whatever Privileges our wife Legiflature fhall bellow upon the Fana- tick Crew, are defign'd only to flop the Mouths of an ambitious Faction, that muil be hir'd to be good Subje6ls, and whofe Fidelity is always un- derilood to be uncertain and precarious j and that whatever Difcouragement they may at any time pleafe to lay upon us^ they well know how the Loyalty of the Church of Eirgland is always fe- cure under the fevereil PrefTures, that ihe ferves her Prince as fhe does her God, upon Principle > and as no Terrors will fliake the Foundations of her Faith^' fo no Frowns or Force of Power can make her ilagger in her Allegiance. Monday $4 The SCOURGE. Num. 15 Monday May 13. 1 7 1 7. And King Rehoboam confuted with the Old Men that flood before Solomon his Father y and faidy How do you advife that I may anfwer this People ? And they [pake unto him faying-, If thou wiltfpeak good Words to them., then they will be thy Servants for ever I i Kings xii. 6, 7. ^WHJfJlT is the hard Fate, it feems, of this^ ^$ EfTay, to be diftinguiHi'd by an ^/^Z:?^/?^ I ^$ py Namc^ that has given Occafion for ^^ I ^ _ '^,% abundance of fmart Wit and dangerous *i-ii^H^^^ Raillery, fince its firft appearance in the World j and there are fo many bloodily fevere jeib depending upon the 'Title ^ that the Author had need have a good Share of Refolution and Inno- cence to keep up the Spirit of his Pen,, and fupport himfelf in the Riture Profecution of his Dengn. Aik the Opinion of a Fancitick concerning the Scourge^ and he'll fhake his empty Noddle at you, and ciy, A "very dull Fellow^ hut let him alone^ and he'll foon make a Rod/(?r his own Back! And you fliall hear a Wretch^ who has no more Value for Rehgion than a Horfe, inhumanly taking Advan- tage of the Word^ and deliring the Scour get might fall, forfooth, under the Scourge of the Law, that is, be uilier'd into Cuftody of the Black Rod^ or, more Num.15, y^^^ scourge. 95^ more probably, be whipt at a Cart's Tail : The Libertine calls him an Ecclejiaftical Bully •, and the Drudges in Politicks refolve to bring him under the Liijh^ and to make him fmart for't. This is a Specimen in what manner the DifTenting Faction have thought fit to reply to this Weekly Entertain- ment, which induces the Modefly of the Author to hope 5 he has not very unhandfomely acquitted himfelf, when the mighty Obje£tions that have conftantly attended the PubUcation of his Paper, amount to no more than an infipid Collcftion of Punns, and a Childifh Playing upon the Sound of Words. The World muft believe that I am not much con- cerned at thefc faint and ridiculous Sallies of Wit > and I would give the feveral Clans of the Separation to underftanclj that I defpife their treats with as much Scorn as I do their Arguments : What ! Is the wife Adminiftration of our Government become a Fa6lion ! That to contend againft the Principles of a Dijfenter^ muffc be to fly in the Face of our Superiors ? Is He one of our Superiors then ? Is it Treafon againft the Prince to difcovcr the Hypocrify of a Fanatick ? Is a Vindication of the Church be- come a JVatch-'word to Rebellion , and to be under- flood as a Libel upon the State? Is it a greater Crime to fpeak upon the Side of an Eftabiifhmentj influenc'd and protected by the Laws, than out- rageoufly to defy Authority, and cenfure the pru- dent Reiblutions of a whole Nation ? What fort of Adminiftration would thefe Men perfuade us we live under? What can be the Defign of thefe def- perate Infinuations , but to foment a Jealoufy be- tween the Ecclefiaftical and Civil Powers, whofc Interefts are infeparable, and mutually depend upon a firm Friendfhip and Unanimity ? But how prepofterous is it for a Separatift to compare 96 7^^ SCO URGE. Num. 15; compare the Fadion of his Conventicle \o the Loyalty of the Church of England? A Prefby" terian taUc of his Loyalty ! Let him mind his IVhole^ [ale and Retale^ and referve the poor Stock of his Underilanding for the Bulinefs of his Counter, or I afTure him I fhall chain up the Hiftory of Pref- hytery in all the publick Places of the City, that the World may be convinced what a dear Lover he is of Monarchy, what a wondrous Skill he has in PoHticks, and what a glorious Figure he makes at a Council-Board. I mould be glad to know what a Diflenter has to do in the State, any more than to fubmit to the Laws, and to exprefs his Gra- titude for the Protedion of his Perfon and his For- tunes 5 his Integrity and Honour feem to me to ftand fufpefted in the Eye of the Government, which has taken care to prevent his medhng with the publick Affairs, and excluded him from the Civil Offices of the Nation^ and how great foever his Opinion may be, of his FideHty, I would have him forbear his Boafts, 'till he has aton'd in fome mcafure for the Mutiny of his Anceflors > and 'till he can prove there may not pofHbly be as good Subje6ts as himfelf : Give me an Inftance of one Reign, or one Point of Time, wherein he has. approved himfelf perfe61:ly eafie j wherein he has not been impoitunately craving either the Repeal of old Laws, or the Enading of new ? But H^e fit content with our Eftablifhment > the Church of England has been always regular in her Conducb, when thefe Men feem to have a fort of St ate- Ague upon them j one while they burn with Duty and Zeal, and prefently they grow as cold as Winter, and ihake themfelves perfectly out of their Alle- giance. If the DifTenting Body refolve to be Loyal in good Earaefl, and to fubmit from a Principle of Confcience, Num. 15. T'/?'^ SCOURGE. 9t Confciencc, I heartily congratulate the Happineis of the State upoii fo worthy an Addition to the Number of its Subieds -, but why are they con- tinually tcazing their Superiors, and rcprelenting the Merit of their Service^-, as if there were no other way to reward their good Actions, but by depreciating and defpifing tlic Fidelity of others ? W hat has a Suhmjffion for Confcience fake to do with the publick Offices and Employs of the Na- tion ? Are they not obliged to fcrve their Prince without a Bribe ? Does not Religion bind them to Subjection? What hard Uiage is it they meet with? What Encroachment is there upon the Birth-right of the SubjeCl ? Is a Fanatlck born a Lord-A Liyor, or a Cornet of Hoife ? For Ihame, let them not abufe the World with Nonfenfe and Noife, and an inconfiftent Multitude of Griev- ances , when they are ufed handfomely among us, and enjoy the moft valuable Privileges, w^hich no Separatills from any National Church upon Earth can boall of befide themfelves > let them be as good Subjects as poffibly they can, and I could Wilh their prefent Deportment would draw a Veil over the RebeUion of their Fore-fathers : But how odd it looks for them to ingrofs the whole Sphere of Loyalty to themfelves, as if the better Part of the Nation were actually in Arms againft their Sovereign \ as if they had run fuch Lengths in their Zeal, as were impoflible to be out-gone. Does the Prince owe his Crown to them, that they are always Dunning, and giving him Notice of the Debt? What Hand had they in Limiting the Suc- cefHon? Who made the Happy Settlement, fiip- ported and eftablifh'd it? In iliort, the Church of England can make a Prince happy, and his Fa- mily Illiiflrious : The continued Hilfoiy of her Behaviour fince the Reformation, is no more than H a fuc- 98 r>&d> S C O U RGE. Num. i 5 . a fucceffive Account of the mofl religious Allegi- ance, AfFcdion and Loyalty > fhe hasoeen a Guard to the Throne in the moft perilous Agitations of the State, and has firmly held the Royal Diadem, when the bold Galileans forfook it and fled : And is fhe now become undutiful ? Has fhe forgot the Primitive Doctrine of Paflive Obedience ; facrificed all the Obligations of Honour and Confcience, and play'd the Hypocrite with her God as well as with her King? But turn me over the Annals of England^ and fhew me a Page that fhines at all with an Encomium upon DiJJmting. Loyalty 5 how dark and feditious is the Character of the Schifmatick ? How evidently does it appear, that a Rebel to the Church was never a good Subject to the State ? And will they perfuade us a Prince will faften his Security upon the Loofenefs of a Cloak Slee^ue^ when he may be fupported by the Arm of God, and depend upon the Sincere and Sacred Afliftance of the Miter ? I would give the Diflenting World to under- ftand, that the Indulgence they enjoy among us, was not defigned to oppofe our Ecclefiaftical Elta- bliiliment, or to fpirit up an afpiring Party againfl the Church > it was an A61 perfectly Political 5 and whatever Encouragements it receives from the higher Powers, are no more than Policy and Ma- nagement. The Legiflative Body, who allow'd them thofe Li/perties^ v/ere aftually Members of the Church of England^ and without doubt had a juil Abhorrence of their Principles, when Rea- lons of State oblig'd them to fnine obliquely upon them. It was the Church of England^ I obfen^e again, that tenderly granted an Indulgence to weak Con-^- fclences^ but the Returns of Gratitude fhe has receiv'd I cannot poiEbly obferve : It would be happy Num.15. The SCOUKGl^. 99 happy if the weak Confciences were always fo 5 but if it once begins to make ufe of the T'in^ure of Steely its Digellion may be firong enough to fret the very Church Walls, and the bell cemented Pillars of the ConfHtution. A^. B. At the Rcqucft of feveral Dijfenting Ladies of Qiiality, the Author of the Scourge has obliged himfelf, if living, or his Executors, Ad- minillrators, or Afligns, upon the firil Monday in the Month of May^ which fhall be in the Year of our Lord One Thoufand Seven Hundred and Fifty, to write one long CathoUck Paper againil the Nonjurors 3 provided he brings over to the Church of England^ all the Prefl^yterians^ Anahaptifts^ Deijis^ Quaker s^ and Atheijis in this Kingdom 5 and provided alfo that he makes Converts of the Pope and the Great 'turk^ and brings in the Jein^ within that time > tho' he declares he would will- ingly be excufed, becaufe he has not the Vanity to think any thing he can fiy will (ignifie much upon that Sub jec% when the Gi^^A^i) P RES ERF A- TIFE fignify'd fo little j and he has reafon to be- lieve his Executors will be very apt to be of the fame Opinion. H z Monday 100 r>&^ S C O U RG E. Num. i 6. HV- My -w. -WW, ^w, .Jw, ojv, ^1^ ,»!„ ,wc, -Jv, '>rfu rji„ '^v, 'JV, Monday Mayii. 1717. I appeal unto Cxizt':, Acts xxv. 11. !K«*:?!^^«OR the Edification of the Publick, I think my felf oblig'd to communicate _ * xht following Letter, which I re- »|©£Q^S ceiv'd a few Days ago 5 the Modera- **•:••:• j-rH--:- ft tion, the good Manners, the flowing Style, the Argument, ingenious SpelUng, and me- ritorious Defign of it, I make no queftion will render it very entertaining. Utopia Apr. 50, 171 7. Nezv Style. To the Author of the Scourge. Sir, I Lay hold of this occafion to acquaint you^ that as 'well in my Opinion as in the Eye of e^uery one (who don't weigh fhlngs in the Ballance of Preju-- dice and Tntereft) Ton are a COXCOMB: I fay a COXCOMB':, aninfolent^ iUeterate^ medling COX- CO MB : Or to fpeak more like your felf (for I know you love Metaphor and Simile) You are the venemous Off-fpring of that tinparallerd Phoenix of Ignorance and Stupidity.^ the EXAMINER. I am pretty fure that I floallhe immediately with an Air of Con- tempt, fentenc'dfor a PRESBYTERIAN RAS- CAL (for Men of your Principles are very famous for Num. 16. The SCOURGE. loi for drawing Conclutions) hut I muft acquaint yoii^ Mr. PUPPY, that I am as firm^ and I hope a, wore worthy Member of the Church of England as by Law Eftablijh^d^ AS your felf^ or any of your Fa6lion 5 but muft I therefore make a Noife about the Danger of the Church ? But pray what is the Reafon that the Difjmters muft not enjoy the 7'olera- tion allowed them ? What Provocation have you re^ ceiv'd to be thus outrageous againft them? M^ho gave you Authority to arraign the Indulgence of the Legiftature ? Doth it flow merely from the Fountain of Malice or Revenge ? Or (to be ingenious with you^ Mr. BLOCKHEAD) do you write to fill your Belly ? I am inclined to believe the latter : For by the boyifh AffeEiation of Stile^ foreign Arguments^ forc'd and jejune Exprefjions^ and that remarkable Spirit of Dulnefs which runs through the JVhole^ I am bold enough to conclude^ that our Church-Cenfor can be nothing but a Grubftrect Commoner. I am fully fatisffd that what you chiefly rely on is your Impu- dence and unexampled Effr entry : For what is the Scope of your Libellous Lucubraftons ? Don't you go to keep alive that pernicious and moft unchriftian Spi- rit of Popery and Sacheverelitfm ? Upon the PFhole^ I wifliO you have not in effe^ made a Scourge for your own Back ; and I would have you be advised by a Friend (or if you had rather a Foe^ take me for which you will) to beware of your fmall Ribbs. A wholefome Flebotomy this Spring Ti?}2e^ (in my poor Judgment) would abundantly conduce tothecooU ing your Veins^ and be a Sovereign Prefervative a- gainft an High-Church Calinture. I have nothing elfe to addy but that I floould not have been fo warm on this Occafion^ did I not perceive that you are an avowed Enemy to toleration of all Kinds : and fo^ mft iJluftrioHs LOGGERHEAD I adieu. Philadclphus. H z 1 muft loz The SCOURGE. Num. id. I muft confefs my felf unable to return the Com- plements^ of this Gentleman j and inllead of an An- fwer in form, I defire he would accept of the following Coilcftion of Divinity, tranfcrib'd from the Writings of his worthy Pi ogenitors in England and Scotland: They conlill of a few Prayers and devout Ejaculations, that were made ufe of upon the very fame Delign, for which the affeUionate PMadelphiis was pleas'd to do me the Honour of his Correlpondence. The Prayers ! OLord, give us, good Lord 5 but, Lord, you will, maybe, fay to us, you are always trou- blmgme. What fhall I give you now ? But, Lord, whatever thou fayell, v/e know that thou in thine Heart likell fuch Trouble j and now Pll tell thee *what thoufhalt give us, Lordj Pll not be greedy or ill-manner'd ; then only give us thy ielf in Ear- neft of better Things. Good Lord, what ha' ye been doing all this time 5 where ha' ye been this thirty Years? .What Good ha' ye done to your poor Kirk in Scotland^ that has been fo many Years Spur-gall'd with Bifhops riding her^ Ihc has been fo long lying on her Back, and fadly defil'd 5 and many a good Lift have we lent her : O, how often .have we put our Shoulders to Chrill's Caufe, when he could not ftand without a Support ? To be free with you. Lord, we have done many things for thee that never enter'd into thy Noddle, and yet we are content that thou take all the Glory, is not that fair and kind ? O God, thou hail bidden us pray for Kings, and yet they have been always veiy troublefome to thy Kirk^ and very trouble- fome Company: They fay that this new King tliou haft fent us takes the Sacrament kneeling, an4 Num. 1(5. The SCOURGE. 103 and from the Hand of a Bifhop, and that's black, that's foul Work j Lord, dchver him from Papa- cy and Prelacy, and from a Dutch Confcience, and from the Hardheartednefs of the STUART^r, and let us never be plagu'd again with the Bag and Baggage of the Family, the black Band of Bifhops, to trouble and lord it over thy Church and Heritage 5 Good Lord ! fend back our Old King of poor Scotland^ reftore him to his Throne and Dignity, to his abfolute Power and Suprema- cy, from which he has been fo long and fo unjuft- ly banifh'd> Lord, you ken what King I meanj I do not mean King JAAIES^ I do not mean him 5 I mean, Lord, you ken well enough what I mean, fweet King J ESU S^ that has been long kept out of this his own covenanted Kingdom, by the Bifhops and godlefs A6t of Supremacy, {a) Good Lord, it is told us that thou knoweft a proud Man by his Looks, as well as a Mahgnant by his Works: But, Lord, what wilt thou do with thefe Malignants ? Fll tell thee. Lord, what thou flialt do, e'en take them up by the Heels, and roait them in the Chimney of Hell : Lord, take the Piftol of thy Vengeance, and the Mor- tar-piece of thy Wrath, and make the Brains of thefe Mahgnants a Hodge-Podge > but for thy own Bairns, Lord, feed them with the Prunes and Rai- lins of thy Promifes j give them the Boots of Hope, and the Spurs of Confidence, {b) O God, O God, many are the Hands lift up againft us, but there is one God, it is thou thy felf, O Father, who do' ft us more Mifchief than them all. {c) {a) CoWcii. oi Scott. Seim. 1690. {b) Mr. Anderfons, Serm. at Penh. (c) Mr. Rohmfon at Souihamptoriy Aug. 25. 1643. H 4 If 104 ira^ SCOURGE. NuM.i6. If thou do'ft not finilh the good Work thou haft begun in the Reformation of the Church, thou wilt fliew thy felf to be the God of Confujion^ and fuch an one as by cunning Stratagems hail con- triv'd the Dellruftion of thine own Children, (d) devout Ejaculations. BEloved, we read in the Word that the Apo- llles wxnt up together -, one did not go hfore the other > there was no Precedency among them. Beloved, and therefore it is clear that there was no Prelacy in thofe Days. Archbifhops and Bi- fliops are imlawful, unnatural, flilfe and baftardly Governours of the Church > a ftinking Heap of Atheiftical and RomiJJj Rubbifli, a rotten Rabble, miferable Guides, and counterfeit falfe Prophets, Sycophants, Trencher-Priefls, Confcience-Bro- kers, fworn Soldiers of Antichriil, and the Or- dinances of the Devil 5 like incarnate Devils, con- fining Knaves, that will lie hke Dogs > proud, po- piih, profane, impudent, Ihamelefs, wainfcot-fac'd Butchers, Horfc-Leeches : Their Antichriftian Courts are the Synagogue of Satan 5 the Beelzebub of Canterbury^ the Canterbury Caiaphas ! A curs'd, uncircumcis'd, and murdering Generation, a Troop of bloody Soul-Murderersj and facrilegious Church- Robbers, {e) ■ .. The Church of England is a true Whoriflo Mo- ther, and they that were of her were bafe begot- ten j and file neither is, nor ever was truly mar- ry'd to Jefus Chrift. The Communion Book is imperfeft, pick'd out of the PopiJJo Dunghil. The Sacraments are wickedly mangled and profan'd. {d) Croffe at St. Mildred^s in the Compter, July 6. 1643. (e) £an(roft'^ Dangerous Pofitions. Theiv Num.16. ra^ scourge. to$ Their Rites and Ceremonies are carnal, beggarly, popilh Fooleries, Pharifaical Vizards, a curled Lea- ven of a curfed blafphemous Priefthood 5 they are worfe than Loufie. (/) Episcopacy muft not only be pull'd up, but the Bifhops mull be loaned up bel-orc the Lord : The Laws maintaining the Archbijloop are to be accounted of no more than the Laws maintaining the Stews, (g) None ever defended the Hierarchy of Bifhops to be lawful but Papifls^ and fuch as wTre infeded with Popip Errors j all the Newgate s and OldgateSj all the i'ybiirns in England are too little for fuch prefumptuous Heads. The Bifhops muft be ut- terly extirpated, no Icfs than the Romans rooted out the very Name of T'arquin : A Wind to fan or cleanfe will not feiTC their Turn, but it muft be a full mighty Wind, to root up and cai'iy away the very Foundation of their Being, (h) Go on as you have worthily begun, in purging the Lord's Houfe in this Land j Curfed is he that fpares when God faith ftrike : Let us not out of any worldly Refpe6t of Eftate, Wives, Children, Honour, good Nature, Juftice, Compaftion, Care of Trade, or of Laws, grow flack and lazy in our Undertakings i but let us proceed to y^c"^ the Blood of the Ungodly. (/) I declare it is w4th the utmoft Reluflancythat I open'd fuch a Scene of Perfecution, Blafphemy and Scandal > but I thought my felf obhg'd to (/) L'tlburn. (g) King's Scotch Declaration. (h) Sion's Plea. (i) Cafe before the Houfe of Commo.ns. expole 106 The SCOURGE, Num. 1 6. expofe the Villany of a Faaion, whofe Principles have ever been defended by Impudence, Reproach and Clamour, inftead of Argument and Reafon j and whofe Zeal for the Reformation of Religion would never cool, 'till they had blotted out the very Name of the Church from under Heaven. mjl^m^mi^i Monday Num. 17. T'/J'^ S C O U RG E. 107 Monday Alay 27. 171 7. — His Words are fmoother than Oil, and yet he they very Swords 5 PlaL Iv. 22. ^^*^l^*^t^:|;:0 be of fome Religion is fo much in Sp***^^^ the Nature of Mankind, that it is $^8 ^ S^^ impoilible the Atheifi^ can ever hope 3^>^Vr»^?^^$^ ^*^^ Encouragement in the World j ^^V^f*i*^^':J: and therefore in my Opinion, tho* perhaps it may feem llrange to fome others, the moit fatal and dangerous Enemies to the Chriilian Faith, are fuch as pretend to it, but really under- mine , corrupt and debauch it 5 when the Powers of Earth and Hell confpired to extirpate the Gofpel, and the Rage of the Heathen Emperors made ufe of all Arts and Cruelties to deilroy it, tho' it fuffer'd in its Profefors^ it flourilli'd in its Purity-y the Fire of Perfecution rather rcfin'd than hurt it ^ and it daily got ground in Spite of all the Malice and Machinations of its Enemies. So true proved that Obfervation of the Ancients, The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church : But when all this would not do, and Chrillianity become a glo- rious Conqueror over all thefe Difficulties and Dangers, the Devil found a Way to raife a War in its own Bowels, which has done it more Mifchief than the moil fiery Trials of Perfecution •, for when the Profeflbrs of the Ghriftian Religion be- came 108 The SCOURGE. Num. 17. came infefled with Scliifm and Hcrefie, then it "was loon driven out of divers Countries, and forc'd to wander from Place to Place, 'till at this Day it feems difficult to find the Footfteps of it upon the . Face of the Earth. There was once in this Iflanda Church as well conftituted, and as near the Primitive Pattern as any in the Worlds fhe w^as ApoflolicalinherDo- drrine. Primitive in her Government, Decdnt in her Ceremonies, Grave and Pious in her Liturgy : She had the Scriptures, the Creeds, the Sacraments adminiilrcd after the Innocaice and Solemnity of the pureil Times , fhe was redeemed from Super- ftition and Idolatiy , and defended from Vanity and Enthufiafm 5 but thro' the Pride and Difcon- tent of fome, the Petulancy and Weaknefs of others, llrange and dellru6tive Opinions were in- troduced, and pernicious Se6ls arofe, who in time grew to that Strength, that, with the i^ who with line healing comprehenfive Deligns, would over-run her with Confuiion, that they might ereiSt their own Idols upon her Ruins : But with what Prudence and Confcience can the Church ad- mit thofe Serpents into her Bofom, whofePoifoa I fear is yet lurking within her Veins, whofe Re- ligion we find by Experience is Rebellion, and whofe Faith is Fa6i:ion ! If Caligula fuck'd Blood when an Infant, no wonder he proved a cruel Monfter when a Man ; and if this viporous Brood, when it was young and tender^ could murder their -Prince, imprifon the Bifhops, bloodily deilroy the )ell Subjects, and carefs the woritj v>/hat unheard Df ViUanies is it poflible they may invent, fhould :hcy ever again obtain a Superiority in. thefe King- The iio r^/fSCOURGE. NuM.17* The Situation of the Church of England is be- tween two dangerous Extremes, the Proteftant^ and PopiJJj DilTenters, being equally willing, tho* not equally able, to dellroy us : The latter, I con- fefs, are no lefs apt than the former to promote their Superftition ♦, but their Power is now fo weak and inconfidcrable, that whenfoever they at- tempt our Ruin^they will but hafben their own ^ but the Proteflant Separatifts are really numerous, and of a veiy formidable Greatnefs y and a Man muft be perfe6i:ly unacquainted with the Publick, "who docs not ooferve the inliipportable Infolencc of thefe ambitious Confpirators, how they aflem- blc in Fanatical Coffee-Houfes, thofe Shops of Sedition, and caft their Cenfures upon the wor- thicft Part of our Reprefentatives in Parliament : They are conftantly boafting of their prodigious Interefts among the Great v and they Avould make us beUeve they are fupported by Perfons, who by their Places, by their Oaths, and by their Alle- giance, are folemnly bound with the Hazard of their Lives and Fortunes, to maintain the Prero- gative of the Crown, and the Liberties of the Englijh Church. BtJT will thefe Impoftors perfuade us that the City o^ London has drunk deep of their intoxicating Principles, and engag'd to join with them in their deep and unfearchablc Defigns! How incredible is it, that the Londoners^ after their infupportable Lofles by the late Prefbyterian RebelUon, ihould ever countenance thofe tumultuous Aflemblies, which are under flood as the Nurferies of more f i- tal Difturbances ! Is it pofHble that this famous Metropolitan City fhould be infenfible of all the Indignities they fuftain'd by thofe wicked Refor- mers^ or forget what vaft Sums of Money were daily fqucez'd out of their Puifes, without any hopes Num.17. T^eSCOVKGl. nr hopes of Payment ! How many Thoufands of their Children and Apprentices were prefs'd for Soldiers to fight agiiinft thofe very Perfons to whom they ow'd their Being and Education ! How can they digeft the Remembrance of their Lord- Mayors being violently depos'd^ their Aldermen and chief Citizens barbarouily imprifon'd by thcfe helhfh In- cendiaries, without any Colour of Reafon and Ju- ftice ! Can any Length of Time wear out of their Memories the inhumane Butcheries committed up- on their unarm'd Citizens in Eafter^ 1644. when Cronnvel^ the Arch-Rebel, ciy'd to the Soldiers to kill Alan^ Woman and Child^ and fire the City a- bout their Ears I Thefe, and many other Outrages caft upon this illullrious City, for imprudently adhering to this impious Faction, ai"e fo flagrant in my Judgment, that I could (boner beheve fo confiderable a Number of Mankind, deftitute of a common Share of Underftanding, than inclina- ble now to prolliuite their Religion and Confcience to fo treacherous a Party. It is a common Saying, If a Man impofes upon me once it is his Faulty but if he does fo again it is my own 5 a Proverb, one would think, fit to be confider'd by fuch, who, under the deluding Pro- mifes of Reformation, have by Experience found themfelves difappoinced. The Stratagems of thefe fawning Hypocrites, it is certain, did once deceive us, and the Lord forgive /Z;^;;? > but if they deceive us again, the Lord forgive us. In my Opinion therefore it feems to follow, that it is our Interefl at this time of Day, fo to bewai'c of the plotting Papift^ that we may have a vigilant Eye over the crafty Prefbytertan y and I lliould be glad to vindicate the Honour of the Magiib-ate from the Cenfure of fome judicious Per- fons, who admire what may be the Reafon that fo many 112 ne SCOUKGI, NuM.17. many fcandalous and feditious Fellows are fufFer'd to poilon the Religion of the Populace, by their^ virulent and infedtious Libels, and to infpire them with infuperable Prejudices againft the Eftablifh- ment of our Church : And melancholy it is to ob- feiTe, that the Prefs never, with Impunity, dif- charg'd fuch Torrents of Infidelity, Blafphemy and Schifm, as at this Day, to the infinite Re- proach of the Chriftian Faith, and the eminent Hazard of the Three Kingdoms. It was a pru- dent Saying of a Roman Statefman, 'The Difference is 'very [mall whether a Conful difturhs the Common- wealth himfelf^ by tumultuous and profane Speeches^ or permits others to do it. And it feems a Scandal to Government, that fuch an unlimited Liberty ihould be allow'd to difpute any Doctrines in Re- ligion wherein all Chriflians are agreed, much more to connive at fuch Trafts as reje6t all Reve- lation, and by their Confequences very often deny the Being of a God : But highly criminal is the Impudence of thofe Wretches, and worthy of the fevercfl Notice, who flatter themfelves with the Favour of their Superiors, as a Protection for the moffc abominable Principles ♦, who think they may fafely fly in the Face of Heaven, if they fprinkle a few Words in favour of the Stat(i 3 imagine that an outward Profeffion of Loyalty, and a Satyr up- on the Court at Avignon^ will juftify the moll villanous Notions, and under the Shelter of fome popular Schemes in Politicks and Religion, flrike at the Being of Chriflianity, and undermine the ve- ry Foundation of Piety and Virtue. Monday Num. r 8. 27^^ S C O U RG E, tl5 Monday June 3. 1717. A Bifliop ;;^//y? ^^ blamelefs as the Sterjvard of Gody not Self-willed ; for there are ma- 7iy unruly and vain Talkers^ whofe Mouths muft be flopped y Epift. to Titus , Chap. i. 7, 10, II. ^*|;***?'^* ^^ -ApoftoUcal Inftitution o£ Epifco- r?*^""^ ^^* P^n has been fo 'venerably receiv'din %^ ^ ^% the EngliJJ) Nation, that it muft be % *^^ v«^ * ftrangely difagreeable to hear the Cha- 5i•:•v•^r^•^r^**.^ radter of a BiJJjop become the Scorn and Ridicule of a whole Kingdom, and made the Subject of the moft vulgar and licentious Conver- lation : But more ftiocking is the ReflcvStion, when a Prelate has fo far abdicated the Dignity of his facred Office, as to expofe his Integrity to the uni- verlal Odium of Mankind, to give up the Rights of his holy Funclion 3 and, to all Appearance, ap- prove himfelf an Apoftate to his own Orders. THE Lower Houfc of Cowoocation have brave- ly aflerted the Honour of Religion, and of our Ecclefiaftical Eftablifhment 3 and his LordlTiip of Bangor^ by this time, I fuppofe, is convinced how fingular he is in his Opinions j and that it is not the general Belief of the Clergy of England^ that our Liturgy is no more ih.'xnfuperftitious Folly ^ our Rubrick a Ride of Art > and that Repentance and 1 a godly 1 14 r>6^ S C O U RGE. Num. i sV a godly Sorrow depend only upon Cuftom or Con- flltution^ and are unncceflary ^crms of our Accept^ ance with God : For my own Part, I humbly hope his Lordfliip will permit me, without Cenfure, to pin in the common Service of our Church, 'till he is pleas'd to fulfil his Promife, and oblige us with ar Ne-zu Form of Prayer of his own compofing, which his Lordfhip, becaufe I prcfume our EJia- hliflfd Form is criminal and deficient, imagines he has now ajaft Occafton to trouble the Tf^orld with, I humbly beg likewife, that notwithilanding his Lordfhip has told me, that no Man is either more or lefs fenjibk of his Sins for Jheddingornot pedding ^ears^ I may, if it fhould pleafe God to afflid me with any dangerous Sicknefs, be allowed to have the Office for the Vifitation of the Sick read to me^ wherein the Prieft implores the Divine Mercy to confidermy Contrition^ and accept my I'ears j and this- Favour I have fome Afllirance of, becaufe his Lord- fhip has been pleas'd to confefs, that he endea^vours to interpret the DoEirincs of Chrifi^ ivithout the ^Thought that all "who hear him are indifpenfahly ■obliged to receive his Interpretation, In a late Reign I find fcveral Difcourfes pub- liih'd under the Titles of, The Reafcnablenefs of Con- formity to the Church of England 5 j1 Perfiiafive to Lay-Conformity 5 A Defence of Epifcopal Ordi- nation^ and, A Reply to Mr. Calamy, a Difienting Teacher, by Benjamin Hoadlcy^ M. A. Rcftor of ^t, Peters Poor-y and I have been often told, that this Divine was fome time ago advanc'd to the See of Bangor^ and preach'd before the King at St. James'^ upon the j ifi of March -, but I have fome Reafon to believe, that my Information was a Millake, and that his prefent Lordfhip of Ban- gor^ and the late Rc6tor of St. Peters are not the G)AME5 their Schemes of Religion and Govern- ment Num. 18. T/je SCOVKCE: i i s meat are Co widely diftant, that if I follow the Inltrudions of Mr. Iloadley^ I may, if I plcafc, be a tolerable good Subject, and be pcrfuaded that it is my Duty co conform to the Difcipline and Do- ctrines of the Church > but if I am directed by his Lordjlnp^ I may lawfully think my felf free from {ill Obedience to my Superiors j I may believe the Church of Chrilt to be a State of Anarchy and Confudon, that every Man is left to do wnat is right in his own Eyes, and I may abfolutely deny the Supremacy of my Sovereign j it mufl be ex- cufable therefore, when I appear in Vindication of honeil Mr. Hoadley^ and redeem his Charadter from that Infamy and Reproach, that have fallen upon the Principles of the Bijhop : And to fee this Matter in the clearell Light, I fhall fairly pro- duce a ihoit Specimen in their own Words, and refer it to the Arbitration of all reafonable JVIen, whether it is poffible that xhc farae Per fon coxAdi ever be fo loft to his Memory and Religion, as to be guilty of fuch contrary Politions, fuch mon- llrous and fcandalous Contradictions. The Reverend Mr. The Reverend Bijhop HoADLEY. of Bangor. ' T Cannot anfwer to ^ X Am far from faying X ^ tny own Confci- X ' I '^^^^ anfjuer for ' ence anyAttemptwhich ' e^uery Sentence in every * naturally tends to per- ' Book of mine written ' petuate our Diviiions, ' long ago > worldly Gran- ' to open our Wounds ' deur^ great Powjr and ' a-new, to raife the Paf- ' Riches^ naturally tend ' fions, and caft a Cloud ' to take off Mens Minds ' before the Judgment of ^ from true Religion^ and ' the Reader. Preface ' the true Motives of it, to the Reaf. of Conf Anf to V,Snape^p.4.f^4.9' I z ' Bishops Il6 Tt^^ SCOURGE. Num. IS ^ Bishops have Au- * thority to prefcribe for ' the better and more de- * cent Adminillration of ' the Offices of Religion, ' for the Beauty and Ad- ' vantage of that Chri- ' ftian Society in which ' they prefide'j this Pow- ' er I lodge in the Hands '^ of theBifhops, becaufe ' in the firft Ages of the ' Gofpel, no Power in ^ any Affairs relating to ' the Church, could be ' in any Hands but thofe ' of Ecclefrailical Offi- * cers > all Civil Magi- ' ftrates being profefs'd ' Enemies to the Chri- ^ llian Name. Reply to Mr. Calamy, pag. 493 . ' Surely it muft be ^ truc,that theprefentGo- ' vernours of the Church ' fuccecd the Apoftles in ' all that Power which is * at prefent necefiary to * the well-being of it. Re- « AS the Church of ^ Chrifi is the Kingdom of ' Chrtft^ he himfelf is ^ King y he is the fole ' Law-giier^ and folc ' 7^'^E>^ ^f his Siibjedfs^ ' in all Points relating to ^ the Favour or Difplea- ^ fure of Almighty God-, ' and all his SuhjeUs^ in ' what Station foever they ' he^ are equally SubjeBs ^ to him > and no one of ' them any ynore.thanano^ ' ther^ hath Authority ei- ' ther to make 7iew Laws ^ for Chrift's Suhje5ls^ or ' to impofe a Senfe upon ' the old ones^ which is ' the fame things in Mat- ' ters relating purely to ' Confcience or Salvation. Serm. 31(1 of March^ P- il 15-, 1(5. ' CHRIST hath left ^ behind him 710 vifible hii- ' 7nane Authority^ who ' can be faid properly to ^ [apply his Place 5 ri^o In- ' terpreters upon whom his ^ Siibje^s are abfolutcly ^ to depend', no Judges 0- ' ver the Confciences or ' Religion of his People, Scrm. p. II. It Num. i8. 27?^ SCOURGE. 117 ' It is ever agreeable ^ NO one of Chrifi's ' to God's Will, \viiether ' Subje^s is Law-grjcy ' declar'd in an expreis ^ and Judge ever others i^i ' Text of Scripture or ' Matters relating to Sal- ^ not, that fuch Things ' vation^ but he alone, ' fhould be ordered and Serm. p. if . ^ complfd with, as are ^ I do not think any ^ tally for the Intercfl: of ' Man's Religion^ conji- ' Religion, and the de- ' der'd in it felf^ an Ar- * cent Celebration of the ' gurnentisohy he JJjouIdbc ' Office of Religion. Re- ' deprived of any of the ply^ 4p(5. ' com?non Rites of Socie- ' ty in this WorlcL Anfw. "•OCCASIONAL ' MEN ought not to Communion prevents ^ fuffer in their common none of the evil Confe- ' Rights^ for the fake of quences of Separation^ ' any mcer Difference of and removes not the ' Opinion in Religion^ con- Occafion of the unchri- ^ fider'd as fuch. Anfw. llian Behaviour among p. 47. us. Reply^ p. ff 3. ' I defu'c that a gene- ^ IF I hai'e exprefs'd ' ml Uniformity may be ' too much Concern for the ' thought an Advantage ' True, Legal, ^/^^Chri- ' to a Chrillian Nation, ' ftian Liberty of the ' and that it may not be ' M^orld about us^ I hope ' judged an unchrillian or ' they will at leaf pardon * unfriendlyOffice, to en- ^ me fo great an Injury. ' deavour to promote it Anlw. p. 4. ' in the Way of fair and ^ ferious Reafoning. Re- ply^ fii. I 5 ^Who IIS TZ'^ SCOURGE. Num. ig. 'Who could think ^ HUMANE Ah folw ' that when we are re- ' tions^ humane Bene die- ' quir'd to declare our ' tipns^ humane Denun" ' AJJent and Confent to ' ciations^ humane Ex^ ' the Ufe of all thmgs ' communications have no^ ' contain'd in the Book ' thing to do with the Fa- ' of Common-Prayer^th'M ' vour or Anger of God j ' it fhould be thought ' they are humane En^ 'a Difficulty that they ^ gmesy -permitted to 'Work ' ihould be fincere and ' for a time (like other E^ ^ unfeign'd^ unlcis there ' vih) by Proviclence^mecr ' be any who could ' Outcries of humane T'er- ' folemnly declare them ^ ror^ vainM^ords ! Pre- ' without Sincerity or In- ferv. p. pp, i o i . ' tention of regarding ' fuch a Declaration ? De- fence of the Reaf. of Conf p. iz6^ zzj. ' It concerns us all, as ' EVERY one may find ' much as the Favour of ' it in his own Condu6l to ' Almighty God concerns ^ he true^ that his Title to ^ us, to have a facred and ' God's Favour cannot cle- ' conftant regard to pub- ' pend upon his actual be- ' lick Peace and Unity. ' ing or continuing in any Perfu. Lay-Con. p. z8p. ' particular Method, hut ' upon his real Sincerity iyi ' the Conduct of his Con* *' fcience. Preferv. p. 90, ^ It is an ObHgation ^ FOR one Chrifiiaji ^ upon every Chrillian to ' Divine to he told hy ano- ' w/i?r»2himfelf towhat ^ ther Chrifiian Divine^ ' is eftahlifJo'd^ unlefs you ' that he contradicts A6ts ' will lay all Eilablifh- ' of Parliament , and * ments open to infinite ' Laws made hy Men, « Divi- Num.18. TheSCOUKGE, 119 ' Diviiions, and frullriitc ^ bas a 'very odd Appears * the very End for which ' alone they are defign'd. Perfii. Lay-Con. p. 294. ' In Theory it figni- * fies Httle what a Man ' liiys, he may make what * EcclcfiafticatUtopiaWvz ' pleafes, and indulge his ' own /?£7^////^r Judgment ^ and Genius to the ut- ^ molL Reply^ p. j-24. ^ qnce. Anlw. p. J (5. ^CHRIST himfelf is * -^//Tg-, ^;?^ has left no ' Vicegerents who can he ^ [aid properly to fupply ^ his Place: MyPracike ' is all that Zeal^ Duty ^ and SiihmiJJion^ which ^ can refult from the fin- ' cercfl Affection to King * George. Serm. p. 1 1 . Aniw. p. fo. 1 4 Monday I20 The SCOURGE. Num. 19. qoqooqgOqoocooqoocqocgoo Monday '/z^;?^ 10. 171 7. - Jubal 'X*^.^ Z^/:?^ Father ofallfuch as handle Gen. iv. 21. /^^^ Organ Sir, N E would think that the Tcftimony ' of the Reformed Abroad, and the ^ Encomiums they bellow upon the ' Decency of our Church Cere- ' monies, ihould be an unanfwer- ablc Argument of her Purity in Worlhip , and filence any Intimation of Popeiy or Supcrilition that Ignorance or Calumny may urge againfl Her : But it feems the greatell; of our Enemies have always been within her own Bowels , and ftill they purfue their Refentments in fo unfair, fo unchrillian a Manner , that you are fenfible there is infinitely more Application requir'd to difcover the infinuating Fraud and Defign, than to over- throw the Force of their Reafons and Objections. ' The Burning of the Fr^;?^:/:? Chapel fome time ago, if you remember, was generally imputed to a Fire intended to dry the Paint of a new Organ j and this Report, tho' -^bfolutely falfe, I find fo un- handfomely improv'd by our good Friends, the Di£enters^ that pubUckly, not long fince, I heard ' one Num. 19. The SCOVKG E. . 1 21 one of their Teachers blalphemoufly pronounce it to be a Judgment from Heaven upon the C'on- gregation, for Rccei\-ing th-xt fapcrfi it ious Engine, that P^/>/^ Piece of Foppery, iishccall'dit, into their Holy Aficmbhcsj becaufe, foriboth, the Service of the Heart is all^ and God is no way affccled with fuch Pageantiy, fuch fantallical Devotion. ' This wicjced Infiniiation, Iconfels, furprifcd me, and I had hardly, at that time, a command of Temper ilifficient to prevent myexpofingthc Villany of the Wretch before the Company about us -, but confidering witli what Impudence and Noife thoie Fellows engage in Difputcs, and from a Principle of good Manners to the Converiation of the Coffee-Room, I chofe rather to exprels my Thoughts in this manner, which, if you pleafc, you are very welcome to communicate to the World. ' And by way of Satisfiidion to fuch unhar-^ monious Souls, I would have them believe, that the Governours of our Church will always profefs that Regard to the whole Body of Proteftants Abroad, as not to gratify the Sullenncfs of a dif^ contented Party at Home, by removing Inftru- mental Mufick from our PublickWorlliip, fincc the Organ is almoll univerfally made ufe of in all Proteltant Churches j not only thofe that re- formed from Luther^ but that folloAved tlie Scheme of that four, melancholy IVIan, John Calvin himfclf^ but to make it appear, that tlic Church of England hiis more to defend her in the \J{e of the Organ^ than her Agreement witli tlie Reformation Abroad, I ihall endeavour to fearch into its Original Hifloiy, and fee what Authority fhe has for admitting into her Sendee, this Noble^ this Melodious I3i"anch of Inflmmental Mufick. ' Thi: izz The SCOURGE. Num. 19. ' The firll Account we meet with of the Or^^;?, ' is in Gcnefis^ where Juhal is recorded to have been ^ its firll; Inventer j and to juiHfy our Tranflation, ^ we mull obfeiTe, that the Sepiuagint exprefs it ^ by the Word Pfaltery^ which Tremiliiis^ a Na- ^ tive Jew^ who perfectly underftood the Propriety ' of the Hebrew Language, tranflated Organ in his ' Latin Veriion, whofe Opinion is followed in all ^ our Bibles. To preferve this Inftrument fi'om the ' Deftrudion of Fire and Water, Juhal infcrib'd ' his K\x upon two Pillars, the one of Marble, the ' other of Brick, which ihould fecure it to Poflerity ^ from the Rage of thofe two devouring Elements j ' and accordingly it remained as a noble Advantage ' to Divine Worfhip, 'till the time of Da^vid^ ' who made very great Improvements, and com- ' pofed Hymns^ and had them fung by his Muficians ^ to the Sound of the Organ : And here it may be ' proper to obfeiTC, that my introducing the Ex- ^ ample of David does not at all prove the Ufe of * the Organ to be part of the Ceremonial hTiWy for * it may be noted, that this Inftrument appears to ^ be far more ancient than the Tabernacle or the * Temple of the JewSy and feems to flow from the * common Reafon of Mankind, and to be the pure ^ Effect of Natural Rehgion. ' Tni^P falter y or Organ viCiS always made ufe of ' in the Service of the Temple, 'till the Time of 'our Saviour j and about two hundred Years after ' his Refurrection, we find Clemens of Alexandria^ ' a Prefbyter of great Piety and Learning, adviiing ' his Flock to mix Inftrumcntal Mufick with their ' Devotion : If you can play upon the Harp Icommeyid ' you^ for you imitate that Righteous Hebrew Princey ' whofe Service was acceptable to God. St. Hilary ' tell us, that the Singing of a Pfalm is when the * Organ leads , and the emulous Voice of the Choir follows Num.19. The SCOUKGIE. i2j ' follows it'y for David prophefted upon an Organ, ' ijuhicb in the Greek is called a Pfalteiy, the mofl ' excellent of all Mufical Inftruments . St . Bafil fays, ' that a P£\lm is a Mufical Speech when it is tunably ' plafd upon an Organ, after the exa^l Rule of ' Mufical C onf or ty and is not this Authority enough ' to fkreen the Organ from the Cenfures of thcfe ' morofe People, who have the Ignorance to call it ' a Remain of Popery, when it evidently appears to ' have been in ufe before there was any fuch thing ' as Popery in the World ? I had almoll; forgot to * inftance an Injunclion of Queen Elizabeth^ where * fhe orders a Hymn to be fung at the Beginnirigy or ' the End of the Common-Prayers^ in the befi fort of ' Melody and Miifick that may be conveniently de- ^ vifed : An Argument of little Force, I am afraid, ^ with thofe who feem to oppofe the Ceremonies * of our Church, for no other reafon than their * being confirmed and commanded by the Supreme ' Power. ' But one would think the Nature and Reafon- ' ableneis of the Thing it felf would fufficiently ' juftify the Organ in Divine Worihip, without ' the Recommendation of Antiquity j for there ' is fuch a Sympathy between Sounds and Paffions, ' that they are by Turns the natural Effects and ' Caufes of each others and tme Devotional ' Mufick very divinely opens the Affe6tions of ' the Soul, compofes the Thoughts, and calms the ' Mind J and the Organ has fomething in it fo ' Sweet, fo Solemn, fo AngeHcal, that it is pity ' God Ihould lofe the Honour and GIoit of it ' in his Sei*vice, or Man be deprived of what ' ravifhes his Soul, and invigorates his Piety in ' the mofl fublime, the moft feraphick Manner. ' I confefs there are fome Dangers and Incon- ' veniencies that may attend the \J{t of Inllru- ' mental 124 r>6^ SCO URGE. Num.19.' mental Mufick 5 and I would advife all the Mem- bers of our Church not to Rx then* Senfes with too much Intention, or fo much regard the Me- lody of the Sound, as to be drawn off from the Matter and the Bufinefs they are upon j this fecms to be the Defign of our Church, by ap- pointing, that whatever is fung fliould be ex- prefTed in the common Language, and the Mu- fick intended only to raife and moderate the Song, and infpire the Devotion: And therefore the Gentlemen who handle our Organs will pardon me, when I advife them not fo much to regard the Sweetnefs of the Notes , or the Delight of the Ear, as what becomes the Majelty and So- lemnity of Divine Worfliip : For to ufe the Words of a great Critick in Church Mu- fick'y The Form of 'tune ought to he fuch^ that it hinders not the underftanding of the Matter^ hut may rather help it,, and "which from the Un- derffanding of the Words^ joined "with Sweetnefs , may delight the Mind rather than the Senfe or EarSy for an over Nicety in mincing of the Air^ either by Oftentation^ or Art^ lulls too much the outward Senfe , and leaves fpiritual Faculty untouch'* d'^- whereas a fober Mediocrity^ and grave Mixture of T'ime and Ditty ^ rocks the very Soul^ and carries it into Ext aft es 3 and for a time feems to cleave and fundcr it from the Body^ elevating the Heart inexpreffihly , and refemhling in fome Proportion the Hallelujahs ahove^ the Choir and Unity which is in Heaven. ' And I dare be confident, would the mofl janing Diffcnter frequent our publick Aflcmblies for a little time, and make himfelf acquainted with the Divine Harmony of the Organ ^ his Soul would be foften'd into the moft generous Sentiments of our Publick Service, and his Spirit 'of Num.19. 216^ scourge. 125 ' of Oppofition and Bittcrncfs againfl Inflru- ' mental Mufick be charm'd away^ for if caints ' to pafs^ when the Evil Spirit was upon Saul, ' that David took an Harp^ and played with his ' Hand^ fo Saul was refrefied^ and was well^ and ' the Ei'il Spirit departed from him. I am. Sir, Your mofl humble Servant. Monday i%6 TheSCOVKGE. NuM.20 Monday June 17. 1717. Give me leave, and I will flay this Dragon without Sword or Staff. Hiftoiy of Bell and the 'Dragon, ver. 26. C'©©*^*^@T is impoflible to be in the Streets #^5BP5*§^ without obferving what a Multitude %(^ I S)*^ of Quakers appear among us all of a #j^^^^j^i*:s^ fuddenj and they affedt to ftalk along ®*®®@@# hy Couples^ in fo flow and fullen a Manner, that they force the gay and aftive Part of the World into the Kennels, and perfectly make a Stoppage in the publick PafTages of the City : I am informed the Fraternity of Por- ters are drawing up a Petition to the Magiftrate, humbly fubmitting the Matter to his Conlidera- tion, either to turn them into the Coach-way^ or to retrench the Circumference of their Hats and Cloaks^ which are a great Offence to his Majefty's Leige People, whofe Livelihood depends upon Speed, and a quick and nimble Difpatch of Buii- nefs : Not that I charge the whole Se6b with gi- ving this Offence and Obftru6fcion to their Fel- low- Subjects 'y for I confefs, there are many very dapper and mercurial Youths, who cock up their Hats clofe, cannot fpare you an Inch out of a whole Coat^ NuM.20. TZ?^ SCO URGE. 127 Coat^ and (kip by you with all the Eafe and Agi- lity imaginable. The Religion of a Quaker has a great deal of Judaifm intermixed with it, and they always ob- fei-ve an Annual Rendezvous in this City to cele- brate the Feaft of Fentecoft^ the Divinity of the Holy Ghoft being an Article of Fiiith they abfolute- ly deny : Hither eveiy Congregation of them in the Kingdom fend up their EmiJJaries^ to give Ac- count ot the Proceedings of the Conventicle , and here they fit in Convocation to make Canons, decide Controverfies, to excommunicate, and to eflablifh a Sett of Principles that ihall be a Stan- dard for the Year following. When Matters of Importance arc difpatch'd, there is a Committee appointed to examine into the Apparel and Habit of the Affembly, who make a Report of the Indecencies and Superfluities they obfeiTC, and agi*ee upon the Fafhion of the Gar- ments, the Form of the Plaits^ and the Number of Buttons that fhall be univerfally followed and made ufe of: Then they proceed to re6ti{y any Abufes that have been introduc'd in their Dialek and M'^ay of Speakings and invent new Words, lliff and formal, and in direcl Oppofition to the com- mon Senfe and good Manners of the whole King- dom : I had almoft forgot to take Notice of a le- le6t Company of Matrons^ x-^o furvey the Drefi of their own Sex^ and refolve upon the Attire, the Lockets, the Hoop-Petticoats^ and Decorations the pretty Schifiriaticks iliall, for the future, diilin- guifh themfelves by. The firil ^laker that ever fprung up in Eng- land was GEORGE FOX^ an ignorant ilhterate Mechanick, whofe highell; Prefemient w^as to be ajourncyman to a Shoe-maker in Mansfield^ a Fel- low that could neither write nor fpeak EngUjh j of 12 8 ThS COUKGE. Num. 20. of no natural Accomplillimcnts, but a wild di- ilraded Enthufiall, yet of that Eilecm with his Followers, that they prcferve his T'ools and Inftru- mcnts, as the moil (acred Relicks, and adore them with more than Popijlj Superlbiion. His Awls, his Boots, his Hammock, and old Trundle Bed- flead, are kept by his Executors with the highelt Veneration 3 and they profefs that Efteem for his Memory, as to maintain his Relations handfomely upon the pubHck Charge. His lall PFill is now to be feen in the Prerogative-Office under his own Hand, and will give us a very exa6l Idea of the Principles and the Abilities of this Apocryphal Religion- Broker 'y the Style of it is more like a Mahometan than a Chriftian^ and very fuitable to the Genius of the Wretch, who is mighty par- ticular in difpofing of his Lumber and GHlter-Pipe, without any Regard to a future State, or the Re- furreclion of his Body, which he beUev'd nothing of: I fhall entertain the World, with thz'Teftament of this Apoflate, with this Afllmrnce to the Rea- der, that were I to tranfcribe it literally, the Spel- ling is fo barbarous, that it would be ahnofl unin- telligible 5 I muil therefore ufe the Freedom to corre£b the Faults of the Pen, in order to make it undcrftood 3 otherwile I offer it abroad in his own Words, and in its genuine Nonfenfc, Stupidity and Profanenefs. George YoyIs laft Will and Tefl amenta written 'ajith 'his own Hand, ' X D O give to nomas Lower my Saddle, they J[ ' 'M't^t John Nel funs 'y and Bridle, and Spurs, ' and Boots, inward Leathers, and the New-Eng- ' land Indian Bible, and my great Book of the * fignifying of Names, and myBook of the New- ' Tejla?nent Num. 20. TbeSCOUKG E. 1 29 7'eflament of eight Languages, and all my Phy- fical Things, that came from beyond the Sea, with the Outlandilli Cup > and that Thing that the People do give G lifters with, and my two Dials 'y the one is an Equinodial Dial, and all my overplus Books, to be divided among my four Sons in Law j and alfo all my other Books, and my Hammock, I do give to Thomas Lower that is at Benjamin Antrohus his Clofct •, and i^^- chel may take that which is at Strafhmor^ and T'homas Lohver may have my Walnut Equino- <5bial Dial •, and if he can, he may get one cut by it, which will be hard to do 5 and he fhall have one of my Profpcft GlafTes in my Tmnk at London^ and a Pair of my Gloves, and my Seal and the Flaming Sword to Nat. Mead-y and Thomas Laier fhall have my Spanijh Leather Hood> S. 7l/ K . ^ And 1JO r.&^ SCOURGE. NuM.20. ' And Sarah^ thou may'fl give Sarah Fricken- ^ field halF a Guinea, for ilie hath been fcrviceabk * to me, a lioneil cai'eful young Woman. ' Make no Noife of thefe things, but do them ' to the Life as I have order'd them 5 and when * all is done and clear'd, what remains, to the ^ Printing my Books. ' Beyijamin Antrohus hath l.oo/. of mine, take ^ no Ufe for it when you do receive it j and in * my Chcil in Benjamin Antrohus' % Chamber, there * is a httle Gilt Box with fome Gold in it, Sarah * Mead may take it, and let it do Services among * the reft, as far as it will go 3 theBoxisfeaPdup. * And let 'ithomas Docker^ that knoweth many ^ of my Epiftlcs and written Books which he did ' write, come up to London^ to aflift Friends in * forting of my Epiftles and other Writings, and ' I give him a Guinea j this to be put up among ' the feal'd-up Papers in the Pocket that Sarah * Meadh-xxh. ' I do order PF, and S. Mead^ and J. Lower ^ * to take care of all my Books, and Epiftles, and ' Papers that be at Benjamin Antrohus' s^ and thofe ' that come from Strathmor^ and my Journal of * my Life, and the PaiTages and Travels of Friends, *'and to take them all into their Hands, and all ^ the Overplus of them they may have, and keep ^ together as a Library when they have gathered * them together^ which is to h^parted. ' And for them to take charge of all my Mo- * ney, and defray all as I have order'd in my other * Papers, and any thing of mine they may take, * and God will and fiall be their Reward. ^ "Thomas Lower and Thomas Rous may aflift you, * and all the PaiTages and Travels, and Suffer- * ings of Friends in the Beginning of the Spread- ^ ing of the Truth, which I have kept together, ' will Num.20. .jr>&^ scourge. 131 <- will make a FINE HISTORY, and they may ' be had at Strathmor^ with my other Books ; and ' if they come to London with the Papers^ then ' they may be had either at JV. Af. or Ben. An- ' trobus's Clofet j for it is a fine thing to know ' the Beginning of the Spreading of the Gofpcl, ' after fo long Night of Apolb.cy fince the Apo- ' ftles Ehys, that now Chrift reigns, as he did in ' the. Hearts of his People. Glory to the Lord ^ for ever. Amen. ^ G. F. The 8th. Month, 1688. Endorsed thus : ' For G. F. to be laid in the Tmnk at ' /F. MtheS Mo. 1688, K z Monday Tja 'The SCO URG E. Num. 2 f . Monday 7^^//^ M- ^7^7- -—///> Biiliopiick / whether the Church be a Regular Society , or a Chaos of Confufton 5 whether there be any effeftual Provifion made under the influence of Providence to ;;;^/;^/^/« Truth^ and to preferve Peace and Order -y or whe- ther the Subjefts of Chrift's Kingdom are left at liberty to think, fpcak, 7)^\\(1-A.d:as.theypkafe^ with- out Hi Num.21. !r/6^ scourge. 135 out any Coeixion or Rellmint, arc Scmples becom- ing the Madnefs of an Enthujiaft^ but an indelible Reproach to the Epifcopal Charafter, dirc6bly op- pofite to the Being of the ^^^^r^?^ Function, and ad- vanced to cltablilh Herelie, Libertinifm, Infidelity and Atheifm, upon the Ruins of Chriftianity it fclf. I alfure you, my Lord, I have neither Lcifure nor IncUnatiun to enter upon a particular Detail of your Lordihip's Principles, the World 1 am con- fident believes they have been abundantly Confuted and Expofed j but I have time at command, to in- form your Lordfhip how the Publick Converfation of the Town is entirely employed with remarking upon yourLordfhip'sCondu6t, not forgetting that Perjury and Apoftacy , , that Breach of Oaths and Subfcriptions^ that Forfeiture of the Rights of Priefi" hood^ ihat n)iolating of the mofi folemn Obligations and Ties of Confcience^ the moft eminent Cafuifts of our Church have already charg'd upon your Lord- fhip, and with impatience wait for the Royal Sum-' mons to make good. The Cenfure of Dijloyalty to the State, which your Lordiliip fo terribly thunders againft all who undertake the Defence of our Conflitution , I humbly give your Lordfhip to underlland, has no manner of Force with the Author of this Letter 5 But, myLord^ is DifaffeUion a Word to ht phiy^d with ? And is Jacobitifm a Name for eveiy Thing arid Perfbn your Lordfhip does not approve of? Lay your Hand to your He art J my Lord, lay it do fe^ and let it tell you , how often you have ufed this Re- E roach to ferve your Purpofes j how frequently you avc given vent to your own Indignation and Spleen, by facrificing the Charader and Efteem of Men, as worthy as your felf. My Lord , the National Synod have done you Juftice i and notwithflanding the Rcfleftions of the K 5 fakers 134 'I'ke SCOURGE. NuM.21. ^takers and Fifth- AIonarchy-AIcn^ v/ho fide in with your Lordlliip, it was but equitable that your Lordfhip lb notorioujly dilHnguilhing your fell, fliould be as notorioiifiy diiiVm^\\\[\Qdi. TheDefign of this Addrefs is to rcprcfcnt to your Lordiliip at one view, that it was not Prejudice or Perfonal Re^ fentment that induc'd the infer tour Clergy to proceed in Convocation upon your Lordfhip's Principles, but the great Concern of our Church and our Re- ligion : It was time to be jealous of the Honour of our Ellablifhment , Avhen our Canons and Articles were denied and expofed, and by a BilTiop who had fworn to efpoufe the Caufe of the Churchy of which he is now become, I am afraid, an unworthy Member, I beg leave to intimate like wife, that the World expe6ts a Recantation from your Lordfhip, or a due Execution of Difcipline from the Church > and if your Lordfhip perfifls in the Errors you have lately advanced, I mull intercede for your Security, that your Lordlliip would implore the Benefit of the A^ of Grace^ left fome of the Engines of this TVorld fliould be difpatch'd with a Writ de Excommunicato capiendo^ which the following Collection will de-' monftrate you have veiy juft reafon to be afraid of. The Canons, Articles, The Bifliop of BAN- ' and Kubrick of the GOR, \ Church of England. ' TXTHofoever fhall ' TF lany Man upon V Y ' affirm that X ' Earth have a ^ the King's Majefty ' Right to increafe the ^ hath not the fame Au- ^ Number of Chrifi's ' thority in Caufes Ec- ^ Laws^ or alter the Na~. " ^lefiafiical^^ that the ^ ture of the'KtwM'dsand ^ Godly Kings had a- ' Punifhments of his Sub- fmongftthey^Tc^jandthe 'je^s^ they are fo far Chriftian^ •NUM.2T. The SCOURGE. 13 f ' Chriftiaii Emperors of ^ A7//^j ///hisftead^ and ' the Primitive Church, ' reign in their own King- ^ or impeach any Part of ' domand}wtin\\\s. Scr- ^ his Regal Supremacy^ mon Bilhop of j5^^/^. ' Let him be cxcommu- pag. 14. ' nicated /)5/6> /<^(^^. Ca- no}2s of the Church z. ^ Wh o s o e V e r fhall ^ affirm that any of the * Thirty Nine Articles ^ agreed upon by the ' Archbifhops and Bi- * fhops of both Provin- ^ ces, and the whole ' Clergy in the Convo- ' cation holden at Lon- ' don^ in the Year of our ^ Lord God, One thou- ^ fand five hundred fixty ^ tw^o , for avoiding Di- * verfities of Opinions, * and for the eftablifhing * of Confcnt, touching ' true Rehgion , are Su- ^ perftitious and Errone- f ous, Let him be excom- ' municated ipfo fatlo. Can. of the Church f. ^ Wh o s o e V e r fliall ^ affirm thiit the Sacred ^ Synod of this Nation in * the Name of Chri{]:,and ' by the King's Authority ' alTembled , is not the * True Church of Eng- "• ALL the SuhjeBs of ^ Chrifi^ in what Station ' foever they ynay be^ are ' equally SubjeHs to himj ' no one of them has any ^ more Authority ' than ' another to mah new ' Laws for Chrifi's Sub- ^ je5ts^ or to impofe a ^ Senfe upon the Old ' Ones, which is thefamp ' things or /«? judge, cen- ' fure, or puniflo the Ser- ' vants of another Mafiey ^ in Matters relating pure- ^ ly to Confcience or SaJ- ' 'vation. Sermon, p. if. ^ WHEN ayiy Men upgn Earth make any of their own Declarations or Decifions/o concern and affe5t the State of Chrift^s Subjc^Sy with rezard to the Favour of K4 land^ i$6 rhe scourge: Numzt: ^ land^ Let him be ex- ' God\ this is fo far the ^ communicated. Canons ' taking of Chrift's King- oft be Church. 1 5 p. * They are to be had * accurfed that prefume ' to fay, that every Man ^ fhall be Hived by the ' Law or Se6b which he ' profefTeth , fo that he * be diligent to frame his * Life according to that * Law. Articles ofReL 1 8. ' That Perfon which * by open Denunciation ' of the Chuixh is right- ' ly Excommunicated, ' ought to be taken of ^ the Faithful as an Hea- * then, until he be re- ^ ceiv'd into the Church ^ by a Judge, that hath ' Authority thereunto. Articles of Rel ^3. ^ An Aft for theUni- * formityof PublickPray- ^ ers and Adminiftration * of Sacraments , and o- ^ ther Rites and Cere- < monies, and for efta- ' blifhing the Form of ' making, ordaining and [ coniecrating Bifhops, ' dom out of his hands^ ' and placing it in their ' own. Sennonp. 14. ' THE Favour of God ^ cannot depend upon a ' Allan's actual Being or ' Continuing in any parti- ' cular Method^ hut upon ' his real Sincerity in the ' Condu^ of hisConfcience^ ' and of his own Actions ' under it. Pref p. po. ' HUMAN Excommii- ' nications and Denuncia- ' tions have nothing to do ' with the Favour or An- ' ger of God. It is impof- ^ Jihle for Men to un- ' chriftian, unchurch, or ' to declare out of God's ' Favour any of their Fel- ' low Creatures. Pref, p. 8f. 6? loi. ' THERE are fome prO' ^ fejfed Chriflians\y who ' contend openly for fuch an ' Authority , as indifpen- ^ fably obliges all around ' them to Unity of Pro- ' f^If^on 5 thefe divefl Je- * fus Chrifl of his Empire ' in his own Kingdom.^ and was infpir'd with Harmony in Woi-fhip, and a regular Subjedion to their Spiri- tual Superiors j the Subjeds of Chrlft's Kingdom abhoiT'd the lead Tendencies to Schifm, Novelty, or Ambition, and in all Refpeds obferv'd the ex- ad Temper, Order, and Decomm of a Chriftian j but of late the World feems to be direded by new Lights, and more efpecial Lifpirations ; every Man pretends to Inftin6i: within him to determine in Matters of Faith, and to interpret the Scriptures > the Laity by a New Art, refolve Cafes of Con- fcience, and take care to refolve the whole into the Service and Intereft of their own particular Parties and Fa6tions : This Method of advancing the Kingdom of Chrift was never heard of in the firft Centuries of the Gofpel > for which reafon the dutiful Clergy of our Church will no more ad- mit fuch defperate and pernicious Schemes, than they will canonize for Saints, Hereticks and x^po- ftates, who defert the Catholick Faith and Tradi- tion, that are founded upon the Rule of Scripture, and conform to the ApofloUck Prafticc and Ex- ample* I always had a great Veneration for that Com- mand of the Apoftle, who lays a Charge upon Chri- ftians mutually/^ bear ivith^ and to forbear one ano" ther^ in Matters of private Difference either in Opi- nioq Num. 22. The S COURGE. i4r nion or Pradlice > and there is a great Latitude of Charity to be exercis'd among particular Churches, with regard to the feveral Genius's, and the diffe- rent Rights of People : I willingly allow to all Men, much more to Chrillians, all that Liberty^ Natural, Civil, and Religious, that confifts with Scripture and Reafon, which is as much as I de- fire to ufe or enjoy my felf: I admire the excellent Temper of Conflantine the Great, who profcfs'd he would not have Men CudgeWd^ but Convinced to be ChrilHans 5 that Religion was a Matter of Choice, not of Conftraint > that no Tyranny, no Rape, no Violence is more deteftable than that which is committed upon the Confciences of Man- kind, when once they come to be Mailers of lb much Reafon as to chufe for themfelves, and un- derlland thofe Principles upon which they laid the Foundation of their Faith. This was the Senfe of that great Emperor, who never interpos'd his Im-' -per at or i an Power to alter or to innovate, to judge or decide in Matters of Religion, but left that to the Piety and Prudence of thofe Holy Bifhops, who by their Unanimity in Doctrine and Praftice, furmounted the Terrors of Perfecution, and car* ried on the Caufe of the Gofpel, with fuch Splenh dor and Authority, that few Chrillians had the Impudence to difpute, much lefs to diffent from, that cxquifite Harmony and publick Order they dy'd Martyrs to eftablifh. And confiflent with thi^ Primitive Notion of Church Unity and Forbearance, has been the Pra- ctice of all Nations, where Chriftianity has been receiv'd : It was foon obferv'd to be the moll fa- tal Negle6l, to leave Religion fo loofe and diflb- lutc, as to have no Hedge about the Vineyard, to impofe no Limits or Reilraints upon the Perverf- cels and Obftinacy of fuch bafe and refradory Spi- rits, 14^ The S C O U RG E. Num. 2 2 . rits, who under the name of iLiZ'6'r/)', and the pre- tence oF Confcience^ oppos'd themfeWes to the Pub- Eck Settlement, and therefore it was thought fit tjiere luould be every where fome Grand unh'crfal EftahUjlrmmt^ as fhould be the pubhck Meafure j^nd Standard of ReHgion, with Reference to Do- ctrine, Worfliip, and Government : This was al- ways recommended to the People, and enjoyn'd by the Authority of the State, which very ieldom made ufc of the Sword to enforce Obedience, yet always took care to fupprefs Schifm and Dif- fcntion^ that the Diifenter fhould modellly offer his Obje,clions to an Ecdefiaftical Affembly, who examinYi faithfully into his Pretences, and to whofe Determinations he was oblig'd to fubmit. - It was an InlHtution in the very Infancy of the Gofpel, to appoint Perfons of the mofl eminent Piety, Wifdom, and Learning, to be, as it were, the Guardians and Confervators of Religion : The power they exereis'd was originally of Divine Right, and from our Savioiu* defcended upon the j^poffles and their SuccefTors, to whom, in cafe pf Difference and Difpute, Addrefs was made, not only for their Counfel and Judgment, but with a Defign to obey their Dccifions and Decrees, which bound every Man to receive no other Doctrine. in Oppofition to what that 'venerable Conftjiory deli-* ver'd to the Churches. This Precedent of the ApofloHck Age, induc'd the Times that foUow'd to convene Ecdefiaftical Councils^ to ovcrfee the Concernments of Reli- gion in their refpe6live Difl:ri61:s and Provinces ^ whofe Office was to ti*y and examine any Novel Do6trine, and whofe Authority prohibited the dif- perfing of New Opinions, 'till they were propoun- ded to the Council^ with the Reafons why the Dif- fexiter thought fit to add to, or to differ from the ProfefTion Num.22: The SCOURGE. 14^ Profcilion of the Publick: IF the Pious Convoca- tion admitted of his Arguments, he had Liberty of declaring them to the \V orld, othcrwife, it was Excommunication to propagate kis Dodrines, to reflect upon the Wifdom o'i x.)\z Synod^ or to vio- late the Unity of the Church : This was the ody Liberty of Confcience allow'd of, in the pure Ages of ChrilHanity, when it was thought to be a Prin- ciple of Diforder and Confufion, for eveiy one to do what the Spirit monfd him to believe to be ri^ot in his own Eyes. It is certiiin, th^t private 2tndmodeJ} Differences veiy fafely may, and very charitably ought to b'5 borne with Taidernefs, and a compailionate For- bearance > but it would be the Pell of eveiy Thing. Sacred, to eftablijh Iniquity by Law-^ I mean, to tolerate the Ignorance ana Impudence of proud and ambitious Minds, out of fear of encroaching upon the confcientious Liberty of a Chriif ian j for I fhall always be of this Opinion, that when once Men come to be free to profefs what Rehgion they pleafe, they will foon take the Liberty to be of no Rehgion at all. N. B. \V RT.R^ AS the Lord Blfi op of Bangor has invented a New Method of anfweringControver- fies by way of ^^'■Ji^r/;^/^;?/^?,^^' in the Publick Prints 5 thefe are to reprcfent to his LordiTiip, that the Com- pany of Comedians^ afting at the Theatre Royal in Drury-lane^ by an undeniable Right, have al- ways had the Honour of the Jirft Advertifernent j and it is humbly hop'd his Lordfliip, for the Fu- ture, will condefcend to have his Letters inferted immediately before the celebrated Anodyne Necklace^ recommended by Dr. Chamberlain,^ where they will appear to equal Advantage, Monday 144 rhe SCOURGE. Num. 23. Monday July 8. 171 7. If there arife among you a Dreamer of Dreams, Thou Jhalt not hearken unto the Dreamer of Dreams, for the Lord your God proveth you to knowy whether you love the Lord your God with all your Hearty and with all your Souly Deut.xiii. i, 3. HE ingenious Mr. Jofeph Smith has fo very haiidfomely acquitted himfelf in the Defence of the Clergy of England^ that he has fcarce left any thing unfiiid upon that Subjed > I mall tranfcribe a few Paragi*aphs as a Specimen of the Zeal, Learn- ing, and Integrity, of this Tc//;^^ Gentleman : His Compofitions are really excellent, and exprefs'd in a Style fb much like a Chriftian, and a Scholar, that they carry a wonderful Delight as well as Con- vi6t;ion along with them. What I now take the Freedom to borrow from him, is to be found in the Second Part of a Treatife which he calls. Mo- dern Pleas for Schifm and Infidelity reviewed : The Book is printed for Mr. Rivington at the Bible and Crown in St. PauVs Church-yard^ and wants no manner of x\pology to recommend it to the World. WHERE VER the Notion of a God, or Religion ha^ obtained, the Priellhood has always been U'eated with Reverence and Refpe6t j and, 1>TUM. 2 5~: ry&^f S C O U RG E. 145 and, indeed, thefe arc. the ncccUiiry Confcquenccs of each other, and have ahv ays appear'd fo, e\cu to the Light of Nature. There ii» no Nation un- der Heaven, 1 behevc, in this, fo-brutifli as ours: If Priefts of all Religions are the fame^ it may be expected rcafonable the£^//V>' may be lb tooj and then lurely what has been foumverfiil a Dictate of Rcafon, would not be thought inconfillcnt witb Wit and good Manners, even in this Age. But the icandalous Licence of this kind, is not only a DifKonour to Chriilianity, but a Reproach to our very Nation, and mufl give all wife Foreigners as ill Impreflions of the Manners, as the Religion of the Englifi . W hat ! can we find no Body to throw Stones at but the Prophets ? Is the Chrillian Pried- hood lefs honourable than all others ? O tell it not in Gath^ publijlj it not in the Streets of Afccilon^ left our Ifland flink, and ftand a lafling Monument oi Reproach to all the fober World. I wifli it were pecuhar to Libertines, Men that are their profefs'd Enemies, only to defame and re- vile the Sacred Order > but w- e of the Church of England ^YQ the molt infatuated People, in this, un-^ der Heaven 3 we feem particularly fond to expofe our ow^i Clergy, aggravate all their little MiP carriages, and join the Enemy and Blafphemer to fmk the Credit of their Function. Unhappy Gen- tlemen ! Are they not befet with Enemies enough from without, but they muft find us fuch even in their owni Bofoms .^ But let us not upbraid them^ and add frefh weight to their AfHi6tions, but ra^ ther let us endeavour to encourage and Itvcngtheil them in the difchargc of their Duty : This would not only Ikrecn them from that unparallel'd Con- tempt, they at prefent labour under, but animate them to acquit thcmfelves becoming their Fun<6tion, and eafe them of innumerable Difficulties : l5ut ^ L whert 14-6 r^^ SCOURGE. NuM.2^ when they find themfelves loaded with Reproaches from all Sides, and their very Flocks ready on all Occafions to flander and traduce them, fFbo is ? Who can he fufficient for thefe things? The Clergy are Men, Men with Elias^ of like PaJJions as we are-y let us therefore treat them as fuch, and not like Stocks and Stones, that have no Senfe of In- juries. Gladly would I make a Period here, andceafe all farther Aggravations 3 but there are yet one fort of Men, and of the Holy Order too, that we can- not be fufficiently warn'd againft v Men ! that pro- ftitute the moft venerable and facred Office in the World, to the vile Purpofes of Herefy and Perfi- dioufnefs. O that they had taken the fame care, not to have made this Guilt publick to the World, as I would to conceal it, were it not necefTary eve- ly Body fhould be caution'd to avoid, both them and the homd Enormity ! But alas ! Iniquity, even of this kindj flares us in the Face, and the Prieft- hood, the pure ApoftoHck Priefthood of the Church of England^ is in too many Inftances ftain'd with this abominable Pollution. The folemneft Attefta- tions, and Subfcriptions, are not in this Age, either Proofs of the Chriftian or the Churchman j and our holy Mother may take up the Complaint of the Pfalmift, and fay, That it is not an open Enemy that has done m? this Dijhonour-y hut e-ven thou^ my Companion^ my Guide ^ and my own familiar Friend ! Thou ! that hall liv'd and wax'd fat on my Re- venues. Thou ! that haft been rais'd to the diftin- guifti'd Orbs of my Glory, and hadft both Op* portunity and Abilities to have fpread the Divine _ Rays of my Truth around thee ! Even thou haft betray'dme, commented away my Articles, artful- ly insinuated Doubts of my facred Records, funk into the meaneft Cant and JBnthufiafm, to deceive my' Num. 2 3 : "the S C O URG E. 14^ my genuine Off-fpring, and omitted no Method^ either of open Violence, or fccret Treacheiy, to deftroy my Faith, and fet at naught my Difcipline. Let not any bafe and difmgenuous Wretch^ whofe own Confcience accufes him, imagine thefe Papers are levell'd at any but at the Guilty. Thofe who by their Writings, and general ConverHition, make thefe things no longer a Secret > 'tis thofe, and only thofe, do I charge with any thing of this Nature ; perfonal Reflections, and fecret Calum- ny, is what I abhor ; and fuch is the Reverence, as well as Charity, 1 have for the Clergy in gene- ral, that I would not be thought fo much as to inlinuate a Thing, that bore fo much as a Doubt in the Perfons that ftand culpable. 'Tis not to fink the Credit and Reputation of the Gown, that I mention thefe Things > no ! all that know me, or any thing of me, muft know I deteft any thing of this Nature \ Let them that rule ivell^ be counted worthy of double Honour \ but it is to warn all to avoid fuch Apollates, and Scandals to the Gown, as they would Rocks and Quickfands, left their Faith be fhipwreck'd by them. How many fecret- ly encourage fuch as thefe, God, and their own Confciences can beft tell, I will not, I dare not pretend to guefs > but this I will be very peremp- toiy in, that whoeverj of the Clergy eipecially^ either openly oppofes, or fecretly undermines, or abets and encourages thofe that do, any of the Do- ctrines of the Gofpel, or, which is all one, of the Church of England^ he jhall be accounted the leafi in the Kingdom of Heaven y though through the Degeneracy of the Age, fuch PraiStices may fwell him a little on Earth. But when the Guilt is yet farther aggravated^ and the Attempt ftrikes even at the nrft and moft important Principles of our Faith i when the Gravity of the Prieft joins the L z Impu* I4S r/&^ SCOURGE. NuM.2r Impudence of the Infidel, and their united Force fcem, as 'twere, to ftorm Heaven by Violence 5 when we fee him unfay all he has [aid before^ and argue down his own heft former Reafonings^ this niuft llrike the Soul with luch a circling Horror^ fright it around with fuch black Images of things, as if the World were wholly funk to Atheifm, and burning Vengeance already was prepar'd, to burll the Skies in Pieces, and deluge all in univerfal Ruin! A Clergyman ! a Clergyman of the Church of England! revile his holy Mother, and trample un- der Foot the Son of God > tear and rend in Pieces the facred Garments of the one, and blalpheme or write againft the Do6brines of the other > 'tis fuch a complicated Piece of Guilt, fomething fo funk into the Depths of Wickednefs, as fpeaks the impious Wretch that has plung'd himfelf therein, not only a Judas^ the Son of Perdition^ hut the Firft-horn of the Devil! Charity herfelf, that bright, that Hea- ven-born Virgin, who draws, as 'twere, a modeffc Veil o'er every Humane 111, and will put fome kind Senfc on all, ftands pale and ipeechlefs, viewing of the Moniler, and only fighs out lad defponding Hopes of his Converfion. His Ignorance ihe can- not for him plead, no ! his laborious, his diligent Searches to defend his Errors, too plainly prove the contraiy : No, no, fhe too well knows the Springs that move him.. Actions fo open fpeak themfelves y and tho' fhe's candid, {he's not fooliih, and therefore cannot defhroy the Reafon and Na- ture of things, nor put Sweet for Bitter^ nor Bit- ter for Sweety in a Complement. The Luft of the Flefh^ the Luft of the Eye^ and the Pride of the Life^ are the three grand Fountains from whence flow all our Corruptions j and therefore^ as the Bent of Appetite^ the Defire to he Rich^ and appear abov^ Num. 23. 77^^ S C O U RG E. 1 49 above the common Bulk^ are not cafy to be grati- fy'd by the common and honcft Methods of his Duty, his Saviour, his Church, and all that's dear and lacred, muft be given up to their Satisfadion. 'Tis not eaiy to appear confiderablc in the plain Road of Orthodoxy j no, fome darling Monltcr mufl: be conceiv'd, to fpcak the Man of Parts j and a Birth of this Nature, is fure to make the Fa- ther known, and talk'd of: Let it be never fo abfurd and ridiculous, flill 'tis new j and nothing, for that Reafon, mull fhand in Competixionwithit. However, 'tis a veiy melancholy Confidcration, to find the moil: important Truths of our Holy Re- ligion, thus moulded to every extravagant and fickly Fancy \ and that thofe who are fo bold to do fo, fhould find any Encouragement in the World. Can Men find nothing but ReHgion for Philofophy to fport with? And muft that be the firfh thing that is given up to every idle Wretch, who ima- gines he has made fome new Difcoveiy ? Is England turn'd another Athens^ and is no body to be regarded, but who fets forth fome new Doctrine? Let us for fhame return to the old Paths^ the good JVay our ho- neit Forefathers trod before us 5 and not be the Deri- fion of all the difcerning World, for our Abfurdities, as well as Impieties. Let us not only inwardly de- tcft and abhor fuch Pra6tices, but ufe all pofiible En- deavours to hinder their Credit and Influence in the World. Let us fpeak of them as pubhck Nufances, and what ought not fo much as to be mention'd, but v/ith Detelliation. Pride is the very Life and Soul of an Hereticky and let him once be as contempti- ble as he is impious, and he cannot live. 'Tis his ve- iy Food /c; he talk'd of ^ and be thought to have Un- derllanding above the common Size ; and would all but concur to treat him with thatContempt and Dif- dain he defei-vcs, the World would probably hear no more of him. L 3 Monday X50 The SCOURGE. Num. 24. Monday June if. 1717. Who is this uncircumcifcd Philiftine, that he Jhotild defy the Armies of the Living God'? I Sam. xvii. 26. Man muft be very little in Converditi- on, without having his Opinion afk'd in the Great Controi:erfy now in De- bate among us 5 and the Cafe appears to me in fo intricate a Light , that it is difficult to pronounce with any certainty upon that Subje6t. ~ I confefs, I no way envy my Lord q{ Bangor in his Tranfports of an tint ouch' d and un- foiled Reputation -, for me it ihall fhine in the fame Meridian Glory wherein I found it j for it real- ly is of lo dehcate and tender a Complexion, that the leaft Breath, this Hot Sea/on^ would be apt to render it fufpected and unwholfome. His Lord- "ihip, to his eternal Applaufe, has in this impor- tant Difpute acquitted himfelf as a perfeft Mailer in the Noble Science of Defence > and his way of Addrels would perfuade usj that a Protejiant Bijhop was become one of the greateil Prize-fighters in Europe. The Champion knew that there was no Fence againfi a Flail^ and lay about him in fo wild a manner, that it was hardly poflible to ward off the Blow» His Management through the whole, is Num.24. TIS^ scourge. 151 is as uncommon as his Noughts , and has juft the lame effe6t upon the World as his Arguynents \ and his Lordihip has given us but a very low Idea of* ^JVeljl) Billioprick, when he is reduc'd to fend Challenges to his Advcrfarics by a Half-penny-poft. To do Jullice indeed to his Lordfliip, he has fliew'd fome tolerable Prudence in the Encounter, and has aded the Part of a Politick Commander j for when he found himfelf bcfet, and prefTcd home with undeniable Evidence, and the Power of Rea- fon, he raifes the Siege of his Sermon^ and by the Stratagem hopes to pafs off in the Duft imdifco- vered. I wonder that his Lordihip , a Peifon of thofe nice Principles of Honour and Religion , did not ufe the Doctor with the llmie Healing Expedi- ent he proposed to the BiJJoop : A verbal Conference, or a private MelTage, would have cleared up the whole at once, and put a flop to thofe folemn Af- fcverations and Appeals , which are made the Jeft and fportive Theme of the Se5larifts and Infidels at home , and the growing Hopes of the Papijis abroad. I was agreeably furpriz'd at the Clofe of his Lordjhip's firft Attack , to find him in fo Serene and Chrillian a Temper ^ and I had fome Thoughts that a Ray of Grace had for once broken in upon him : He prays God (but coolly I am afraid) to put a flop to fach Behaviour > he forgives from the Bot- tom of his Soul^ and {hews himfelf in a Frame fo calm and undiflurW d^ that you would conclude him nodding at his Devotions \ but he foon lays afide the Bijjjop^ enters the Lifts like a Combatant, chal- lenges^ infifts and demands^ and pulTies on his Claims, as far as the moft fevere Words, and the bitterefl Refentment would reach. Such Methods of unit- ing and making up the Quarrel appear as prepo- sterous to me, and muft be attended with thcfime L 4 Succefs, f52 7;&^ SCOURGE. ■NuM.24. Success, as if a Prelate 5 who was fent to propa- gate the Gofpcl in North-Wales^ fhould immedi- ately, by way of Qualification, admit a Jefuit in- to his Family to teach him French, If the Lord o^ Bangor would have quitted the MafqiieYade ^ the Controverfy would never have fwelPd to this compafs: A fair Author always writes to be underflood, and the univerfal Accepta- tion of Mankind is properly a Judge of him. And tho' his Lordlhip lays fb"gw:at a llrefs upon his own Honour and Reputation^ and prelfes fo hard for Reparation and Juilicc, he feems infenfible of the high Wrongs, and fcandalous Abufes, he has fixed in a fuhlimer Nature : He has ftript the Church of all Order ?,nd Juthority ^ and hasllabb'd his Re- deemer through the Bofom of his Spoufe^ and yet relentiefs and unrepenting, drives on with a high hand, without offering Satisfaction. Notwithstanding the Proof this Prelate has given the World of his regard to plain and open [peak- hig 'y yet 'tis no great vindication of his Sincerity^ or embellifhment to his Order, to Preach one thing and Publifh another. And if my Lord of Carllfle be in the right, he may be as fincere as he pleafes in his Prayers^ he is othcrwife in his Pra- ctice, Who cou'd have fiippofed a Perfon of his undoubted Loyalty and ffritl Allegiance^ wou'd at this rate have impofed upon his Sovereign to dell- ,'ver one thing to Plirn^ and hand out another quite different to the World I But the Dean^ it feems, in Confultation with the Bifljop^ has found out a Mafter Key^ that will unlock all Difhculties, and anfwer all Purpofcs : The Ahfolutelfs and Proper- ly\s haye been fo nicely contriv'd, that, like falfe Bice, they can run thcni as high and as low as they jpleafco < Hi§ Num. 24. 77:^^ S C O U RG E. 155 His Lordfhip very daringly affirms, the I)o- ^rine he taught in his Seymon^ inas the fame he found in the New T'eftamcnt \ which is an unpa- ralleird Violation of I'ruth, and an An*aign- ment of the lacrcd Text. Our God is a God of Order, and his Laws and Inftitutes arc pure and peaceable: But hisLordfhip's Scheme is -c^Dark' ?icfs^ Chaos ^ and Confuf on: His Church fmay 1 complement him with that Name?) is Ibip'd of all Spiritual Ornaments, his Prielb ufelefs, and w^ithout Power j and yet, by a peculiar Figure of his own, he has given a Sanction for every one to play the Prieft for himfelf. The Seclarip of all Ages and Climes will rife up in Judgment againll him 5 the Difciplinarians of Scotland,^ the ylnahap- tifis Q^ Miinfley\ and the whole Pofje of our Dif fenters at Home ( except his Dearly Belwed Bre- thren the Quakers) carry fome Lineaments and Face of Authority, tho' their Models be extreme- ly irregular, and their Foundations laid upon tlie Sand. But the Bifhop has entirely deficed all Dif- cipline, has craced the Beauty and Harmony of Order, and refolved all Religion mto feint "Trance and Lethargy. I hope his Lordlhip will give la- tisfiction to the World before it be too late, and not trull: too flu* to the Dean's Notion of Repen- tance^ which I am afraid will prove very uncom- fortable, both at the Hour of Death , and in the Dav of Judgment. When his Lordfhip's Life fh all be handed down to latelt Pofterity in the Annals of our Church, it will be much to his untouched and un Coiled Reputa- tion^ if it be believed that with a Dcan^ and ^Jc- fuit^ he made up the Concording Trlurnvirate^ to deflroy the Rites and Privileges of that Church, that he had fworn fo often, and fo facredly to pro- teft. What^ 154 r/&^ SCOURGE. Num. 24, Whatever good Opinion the Bijhop may- have entertained orthe Dean's Tellimony, it will not much recommend either him or that to the World j and I beg leave to Eiy, my Lord Carl/Jle's Nan'ative of the Fad, is Genuine, Natural and Eafy. Methinks I fee him in the Study, and the Dean^ in an afFccted Fleer, a drolling out, I fur- nijhed his LordJIoip of Bangor with thofe Faftneffes^ cf Ahfoltitelfs and Proper if s -, the Idea I have of it this very minute, works fo llrongly upon my Mind, that I cannot refafe my Aflcnt, without a force upon niy Reafon. To put off my Lord Car- HJle with fo feint and trifling a Plea, that 'variety cf Company^ and multiplicity of Bufinefs he engaged in^ well may occafion a failure of Memory in fome particular Names or i'hings ^ is to affront him with downright Idiocy and Folly. The Two Letters are confummate Originals, and {hew the Dean to be as intimate with the Je- fuit^ as the BiJJj op', and 'tis pity, but that they fliould be fil'd in the Vatican, for the Inftruclion of that Religious Order. What his LordfJoip of Car- Jifle is moil- to be charged with, in this affair, is that he ihould lay fo much flrefs upon the Dean's Chrifiian Courage and Integrity, that he fhould know him fo long, and know him no better, and put the point o{ his Honour upon fo flender anEx-^^ pedient. Yet I make no queftion, but in the Con- fciences of the fair and unprejudiced World , his Lordfhip will be acquitted, and the Blame and In- famy of the Chrifiian Name refi where in Juftice it might : It is certain that greater Perfonages than his Lordfhip , have been given up and betrayed, and fome may believe Innuendo's can be drawn from other Places bcfides Altar-pieces. In fhort, let this matter fall where it will, my Lord of Ban- gor began this War, and as indefatigably purfues it: Num. 24^ r>6^ SCOURGE. 15^ it : His good Ptirpofes of the Forgivenefs he talks on, are quickly laid afide, and inltead of healing the Gaihcs, he's widening the Wounds he has gi- ven already, and molt vigoroully prepares for ano- ther Onfet. Where will this unhappy Difference at lail center, but upon the Bofom of the Church, and in the vciy Vitals of Rehgion ! A Maligniuu Co- met hovers over our Heads, and is ready to fpout Delb-u6lion around us : The Plague is already be- gun^ and a Lying Spirit gone out in the Mouth o? our Prophets^ and nothing can Hop the raging of the Contagion, but the immediate Interpolition oi Authority. Upon the Magiftrate therefore we call, we conjure him by the Tyes of Chriftianity, by the facred Regard to Truth, and the flowing Tears of the poor diilracted Church of England^ that he will put fome Stop to thefe Divi lions, and not give the Enemies of the Lord thus Occafio% to hlafpheme. To the Author of the Scourge. IDelire you would make the W^orld acquainted with the Familiaiity of thefc two remarkable Men. • MA H O ME T. The Bifliop of Bangor. ' It is faid, that none ' "tHE Favour of God ' but Jews and Chriftians ' caymot depend upon ^ ^ Ihall enter into Para- ' Man's actual Being or ' dife^ but it is a falfe ' Continuing in any par- ' Invention : Say unto ' ticular Method^ but up- ' them, he that is a jufb, ' on his real Sincerity in ^ good, and Jin cere M^n^ ' the Conduct of his own * ihall be recompensed by ' Confciencc^ and of his . ^ the 156 ra^ SCOURGE. Num. -5. ' the Divine Majefly J he ' Attions under it. Pref. * fhall not be tormented p. jpo. « in the Fire of Hell ^/^. ch. z. Eng. Tranf Yours, ^c. Monday JiyJy ii. 1 7 1 7. Kin^s Jhal/htfy Nurfing Fathers, Ifa, xlix. 23.' mv0^^\ N the Reign of Conftantine the Em- "^^"^"^"^ \ peror, there arofe a Difpute between a P Chriftian BiJJoop'dixA'^Prefbyter^ of the fame fital Influence upon Religion with that firange Contro'verfy^ which is can- vafs'd at prefent among the contending Divines in our Englijh Church. The Perfons concerned in tliis Debate were Alexander^ Bilhop o{ Alexandria^ and Arius a Priell \ but here the Prelate was Orthodox, and the Prefbyter the Schifmatick. The Subject of the Controveify was upon fome myflerious Points in the Holy Trinity 3 but the Method of Profccution was bafe and fcandalaus on both Sides, loaded with the moil invidious Reflections, and attended v/ith fuch defperate Confequences, that the Reputation of both Parties became pei*fe61:ly ridiculous^ and the veiy Chrifiian iV^;;^^ fuffer'd by the implacable Fury and Refentment of its Pro- feflbrsj for the Hiftory of that Age informs us, that the Infidels upon that Occafion, introduc'd fome Branches of our Scripture upon their Profane "Theatres^, Num.25. 37j^ scourge. 157 "Theatres^ as Publick Spectacles of Infamy, Deri* Hon and Fallliood. The Report of this DilTcntion foon reach'd the Ears of the Emperor, ^vhohad thuthicred Regard for the Honour of his Holy Faitb^ and the Digni- ty of the Pricjlhood^ that he rcfolv'd to intcrpolc and heal up this unnatural Quarrel ; for the whole Order began to be infeded, and dillinguilli'd into Fadions : The Prelate invited the Billiops of other Provinces to cfpoufe his Side, and the Prejhyter was equally bufy to propagate his Principles, and recommend himfelf to the Efteem of the Inferior Clergy. Thefe violent Pradices the Great Confian" tine foon pcrceiv'd to be of the mofh pernicious Importance, and therefore he immediately fends his Imperial Letter to Alexander and Ariiis. This Epiftle I fhall tranflate from the Original, and offer it to the World (if they pleafe to underfland itfo) as a Scourge for this Degenerate Age. Here you may view Religion rooted in the veiy Heart of a Prince, who could not bear that the Epifcopal-;md Prieftly Characlers fhould be made the Jeft of Cour- tiers and Buffoons 3 but mov'd with a Holy Indig- nation, purpofes to reconcile the Difpitants in the following Manner. The Vict or ions ^ High and Mighty CoiiftaiitinC;; to Alexander and Arius. I Call God himfelf to witnefs, my Helper and Defender in all my Deligns, that the whole Adions of my Life were principally direded, that I might reduce all Nations into one Opinion about the Concerns of Religion, and reftore the decayed Conilitution of the World into a State of pcrted Health and Vigour : And when I was refolv'd up- on thefe Conhderations, I thought to effect the One 158 r>^^ SCOURGE. Num.25. One by Peifuafion and Counfel, and to perform the Other by Mihtaiy Strength, and the Power of Arms 5 for I fuppos'd that if I could unite all the ProfefTors of Divine Worfhip, and eftabliila an univeifal Bond of Amity and Peace, our Citi- zens at home would foon be reformed by the Ex- ample. Moreover, when certain Mad and Enthufi- aftical Opinions had over-fpread all Africa^ arifing from the vain Levity of fome Perfons, who dejGir'd to break the Unity of Religion into Se^s and He- rejies^ I could find no other Remedy to be apply'd to this Schifmatkal Difeafe, than to fend fome Re- ligious Men of your Sacred Order^ to reconcile thofe Fa6i:ious Spirits, that this envious Difagree- ment in Matters of Religion, v/hich is the Com- mon Enemy of the whole World, and difturbs the good Succefs of our Holy Synods^ and Councils, might effectually be reftrain'd and extinguifh'd. And becaufe the Sun and the Light of Religi- on, by the Divine Providence firft broke out in the Parts of the Eaft ^ and fo by his illulhious; Beams has illuminated the whole Worlds there* fore , not without Caufe, I endeavoured to find out you who profefs that Rehgion, that you might be as Guides to bring the Gentiles to the Know- ledge of God y for when I had fubdued the Enemy by my victorious Arms , it was my Ambition to promote their Happinefs, and to have them in- ftrudcd in the ChrilHan Faith. But O the Great and Divine Providence of God ! How much was I grieved when I heard that a Divifion was fprung up among you, which was a very great Addition to my Sorrows , efpe- cially when I found the Profejfors of your Church, who ought to cure the Failings and Infidehty of others, were corrupted and grown diftracted them- fclves i Num.25. The SCOURGE. 155^ fclvcs 5 and when I confidcrcd the Caiife of thefc Innovations in Matters of Opinion, I perceived they were very weak, and far unworthy to be the Occafion of fo great Diilurbance , for which rea- fon I was forced to interpofe with this Epiltle, to decide and moderate your mutual Diilentions, and to ellabhfh an univerfal Peace j and I peifuade my felf my Endeavours will be followed with Succefs, tho' the Difference were much greater , if pofli- ble, than it is. The Occafion of this.prefent Controverfy, I underlland to be this > Thou, Alexander^ didit de- mand of the Prefhyters the Interpretation ofacer- tiiin Place in Scripture 5 and thou, ylrius^ didfl in- confiderately give an Opinion thou oughtefl to have concealed j from whence Difcord arofe amongfl you, the Ecclefiaftical Convocation was difturb'd, and the Populace were divided into Fadions, fell away and forfook the Univerflil Church : There- fore let both of you forgive one another , let nei- ther of you ajk §ueftions concerning fuch Mat- ters, nor make any Replies if fuch Qucflions fhould be propounded : For Enquiries of this N ature , which are prefcribed by no Ecclefiaflical Law, are no more than Cobv>^ebs of Contention , fpun ^ out by curious Wits j and though they feiTe to exercile the ftrength of Reafon, and the fharpnefs of Underflanding, yet they ought to be fupprefs'd, and not be difputed before the Vulgar j to diflract the People, and infpire them with Principles of Faction J for who is able either accurately to dif- cover or to diflinguilh fuch hidden Myfleries ? Or if any one prcfumes upon his own Abilities, how few of his Hearers can he bring to underlland his Meaning ? Or who in the managing fuch curious QiiclHons can avoid falling into Error and Miftake ? Wherefore fuch Difputes muft be reflrain'd, fincc Matters 1 60 The S C O URG E. Num. 25. Matters that are neither prov'd nor explain'd^ or not underllood by the dull Capacities of the Peo- ple, do but encourage the Vulgar to blafpheme : Neither ought you to take occalion to contend about any Pait of the Sacred Scriptures, or to in- troduce any New Notions in Religion, but to be of the iiuiic Faith, and to Ibive for the Pubhck Unity of the Church. But that I may pcrfuade you by an Example > you remember, I fuppofc, that the Philolbphers did all agree in the Chief Parts of their Do^brines, and yet maintain'd fome different Opinions 5 and tho' they divided fome- times in Matters of Diicipline, yet they harmoni- oufly confented in one Profellion : And therefore is it not much more convenient, that we who are the Servants of one God, fhould be unanimous in the Religion we profefs? Ought you to doubt^ whether it be convenient that Brethren Ihould llrive with Brethren in a vain and idle Contention about Words, and feparate about fome uhnecefTary Points^ to the Difturbance of Univerfal Peace? Thefe are vulgar and childifh Quarrels, unworthy of the Charafter of Wife Men, and reflecting up-^ on the Grai)ity of the Priefihood. We think it meet therefore, to avoid thefe Z)/- aholical Contentions : And fince the Great God^ the Preferverof all things, has afforded us the com- mon Light of his Grace, I intreat you, that you ■will permit me to prevail with you, that I may propagate this Light with Succefs, and by my Perfuafion and Advice, induce his People to em- brace Concord and Unity : And iince you profefs one Faith and one Law, which are the Sinews of the Church, and preferve it in Peace, and in the Bond of Love, fince your Contentions no way con- cern the main Stru6ture of Religion, I infifl that you would be reconciPd and become Friends -, for tho" Num. 25. 7*^ S C O U RG E. 161 tho' you diflent in Opinion about Matters of fmall Importance, yet Amity and Love may be fecur'd amongit Men, who arc of one Faith, and believe in one God. And tho* you contend about Words, and dif- putc fubtilly, and with Pallion, about curious Que- iHons, and tho' after fuch Difputations you ilill differ in Opinion, yet you ought to fupprefs your own Fancies, to hide your Prmciples w^ithin your own Breafts, that the Bond of Common Friend- ship, the True Faith, the Divine Worfhip, and the Obfervation of the Law may ilill be maintain'd by you : Agree therefore, and let there be mutu- al Concord between you, that the People may live in Peace and Unity : Banilli, I intreat you, all Con- tentions, and be ye mutually reconcil'd 5 for when Enemies become Friends, that Friendfhip is the moft fweet and kfting. Suffer me therefore to fpend my Days with- out Care and Trouble, that I may enjoy the Hap- 5inefs of a quiet and a peaceable Reign 3 but as ong as Fusion and Difputes continue among you, low is it poffible my Mind fhould be at reft ? I had a Defign at this time to undertake a Journey to- wards the Eaft^ but the receiving of your Letters ftop'd me upon the Road : By your Concord and Agreement therefore, open me a Paffage into the Eaft^ from whence your Diffentions have fhut me out, and let me fee Love between your felvcs, and Unity among the People, that all of us may be re- conciled togethci*, and praife and glorify the Di- vine Goodnefs. M MONDAT I62 T/^f S C O U R G E. Num. 2 5/ % § c>C'!Xi> efe.^ (tCSG) c^-lXi) cMgn(i> § i-felriKrlt***** Monday J^dly ip. 171 7. «5Vrj", Ti' know that by this Craft we have our Wealth. Afts xix. 25. T would be no very improper Demand, to enquire of the Dijfenting Body^ whe- ther it be pure Confcience^ and a fincere Zeal for the Honour of Religion, and not a peeviJJj^ difcontented Spirit, Inte^ reft^ or Trade ^ that principally occafions that in- vincible Prejudice of theirs againft the Commu- «iion of our Church 5 and there is the more Reafon to put Men upon this Enquiiy, not only becaufe {ecular Ends arc very apt to fhelter themlelvec un- der the Shadow of Religion'^ but becaufe this has been an Old Artifice^ mr<.de ufe of to promote Se- paration, iince its firft Appearance in the World. The Hiftory of the Primitive Times inform U5, that the i)(?;^^///^j confin'dalli\.fts of Benevolence and Civility to thof^ of their own Se^^ and up- held their Divifion from the Catholick Church by the Artifice of I'rade ^ for they v/ould admit no one into their Service, but fuch as abfolutely gave themfclves up into their Opinions, and fo fuppor- tcd the Character of the Party, bv an entire Cir- culation of Bufincfs within thcmfelves. Who^ Num.26. r.?'^ scourge. T65 Whoever looks into the "Trading Part of this City, and indeed of the whole Nation, muft needs be a very carelefs ObfciTer, if he does not take Notice in what Manner Intcrefts are form'd, and by what Methods Factions and Parties are kept up : Hiis not Interefi and Trade had a great Share in our Divifions, and that fatal Device been made ufe of to carry on the mod defperate Pra6ticcs ? How many Thouflmds of poor fimple Fanatkks depend upon this or that Man for their Work and Subfillence, and are forc'd to go Moping into Con- *venticles^ and pawn their very Souls to find En- couragement in the way of Dealing and Bufinefs ? And what hard Ufage an honeft Man finds from them, who once deferts the Caufe^ and returns to the Service of our Church ! How induftrious are thefe Wretches to advance their own Clan into Places of Truft and Honour ! how dexterous are they in Match-making within their own Trihe^ not only to keep up the Old Stock, but to breed a New Race of Dijfenting Vermin^ to confound Mankind, and keep Things in a perpetual Flame and Confufion! Now, Interefi: being the great Wheel that puts the World in Motion, it is no Wonder, that what fets the Springs a going, meets with many Fol- lowers : There were fome, we know, who attended their Saviour only/J?r the Loaves^ and efpous'd his Do6trine to get Breads and there are manyfi:illof the fame Perfuafion, who feemingly enter into a Religious Company, to draw Cuftom to a Shop, and to thrive the better in their Profejjion. The Fanatick-Teacher likewife finds his Account in ad- vancing the Interefh of his Followers, and kboiirs hard to promote Trade^ that he may have the richer Prize j and you need not doubt but he will ftill be coining New Doctrines for his Difciples, M z if 164 The SCOURGE. Num.2^. if he has any Profpeft at the (lime time of coining New Money for himfelf. But does Chriftianity allow the reftraining of our Charity to a Sc£t or Party ? Is not this the moft effe6hial Method to extinguifh all good Na- ture and Humanity in the World? Does not Ex- perience fhew us that Differences in Religion four the Temper, and alienate the Affedions^ even of intimate Friends? And how eafy is it to prove, that when Men feparate in Trade, they foon come to feparate in their Communion 5 and fuch as cannot meet together in the Houfe of God, will feldom meet together in their own? There is another Argument to perfuade me that Inter eft is at the Bottom of the Separation^ becaufe the moft rigid of the Dijfenting Party are the im- mediate Defcendants of thofe who in the Great Rebellion^ by Murder and Violence, divided among themfclves the Rev^enues of the Churchy and the Patrimony of the Crown, and I am afraid do ftill indulge themfelves with their T'itles to them ; And if fo, what Wonder if fuch Men look upon them- felves oblig'd, in point o£Intereft, to widen Breaches, foment Divilions, increafe Factions, and all this to overthrow the Foundations of our Church ? being aflur'd they can never hope, but over the Ruins of this Church, to fix themfelves in thofe fweet Po{^ feflions of their Anceftors. Nor has the Principle of Intereft, in my Opi- nion, a greater Share in dividing our Church, than that Spirit of Peevijhnefs and Difcontent, that ge- nerally prevails in Perfons of a Wafpifh and Cho- lerick Conftitution. It is certain there arc many in the World of fuch perveifc and unhappy Tem- pers, that they are inflam'd upon every flight Oc- cafion, .and hke Tinder catch Fire at every Spark: But how prepofterous is it, upon every Difap- pointment Num.25. T')?'^ scourge. T65 pointment or Offence, immediately to fly ofF into Separation^ as if there was no Way to do thcm- fclves Juftice, but by revenging themfelves upon the Church, and crowding themfelves into Con- irnticles ? the fitteft Place, I confefs, to drown their Refentments in Peals of Nonfenfe and Noife^ and to take off the Senfe of Sufferings by Stupifying the Underflanding. It is certain that all ignorant, wilful, and difcontented Perfons run in among the Dijfenting Herd^ as into a Common Se^ver: A Malecontent in the State will foon become a Schif- ?natick in the Church, and his Religion fhall re- ceive a Tincture from the Bitternefs of his Spleen : Thus is the Conventicle the veiy Sink of the Church, where the Refufe and Olf-fcouring of the one, runs and empties it felf into the other. This mufl certainly be a vile and dangerous Stra- tagem, that leaves fuch an Outlet and Encourage- ment to all Manner of Vice : Muft not this take away all the Terrors of Difcipline and Church Ceniures, to have fuch an eafy Way to be rid of the Fear and Trouble of both ? What Check or Reftraint can be put upon Immorality and Pro- phanenefs, when there is fuch an Artificial Method of evading the Shame and Punifhment they defeiTC ? This is a Matter well worthy of the Uonfidera- tion of Superiors, to flop thefe Provocations to Impiety, and to fhut the Door that opens fo wide to Atheifm and Confufion. It would be no Won- der to me, if the defperate Confequences of Sepa-- ration and Schifntj that we have already experi- enc'd, fhould make it neceflaryfbr the Government to apply all jufl and lawful Expedients, for pre- venting the fame terrible Evils for the time to come : it is certain that Men firfl began to be diffatisfy'd with the Rites and Orders of our Church, then difcontented that they were not prcfcntly gratifv'd M J with 166 The SCOURGE. Num.2 5; with an Alteration j Difcontent introduc'd Sedition^ Sedition RehelUon^ and Rebellion the Rum of the Church and State : And what Surprife would it be if the Laws Ihould bear a little hard there, vs^here there are the fame Appearances, and where there feem to be the fame Tendencies and Inclinations to a(9: over the fame Tragedy again? Whoever confiders by what Ways the moil flburiihing King- dofh in the World, and the beft Church that ever was fince the Primicive ' r inies, were miferably har- rafs'd and deftroy'd, cannot think that thofe who iit at the Helm, and are concern'd in the Admi- niftration of Affairs, ihould be content to have them .min'd again, in the fame 1'r alter ous and Sacrilegi- Otis Manner. What a Charafter now mufl we enteitain of thofe Church-men who pretend to be in Commu- nion with us, and yet upon every Opportunity fall in with the Schemes of thefe Semriftsj plead their Caufe, and celebrate their Praifes ? The DIS- SENTERS! upon all Occafions: PROTES- TANT DISSENTERS ! ^ Thofe Names with them are Sacred, and there is a kind of Charm in the Sound of the Words 3 nothing can be faid or offer'd in Defence of our Ellablifhmait, but the toleration muft be in danger, and Perfecution bel- low'd out among the People : The Churc^ by all means muft be New-modell'd, that is, Confounded, that the DiJ/enters may not be difoblig'd. No- thing in the V/orld, in my Opinion, has contri- buted more to the Growth of our Diftempersj than the monftrous and prepoftcrous Schemes of Healingj that have been lately ftarted among us : But is Confufion the Way to Peace ? And is a Conftitution to be ftrengthen'd by the Admiflion of its Enemies into its Bowels? Surely I cannot confult my HeiUth by receiving Poyfon into my Veins, Num. 26. The SCOUKG E. 1 67 Veins, and to cherifh and nuifc a Fever is a moft improper Method of curing it. Shall we offer to comprehend^ and inclofe thefe Serpents within our Bofom ? Curfcd be that abfurd, that wicked Scheme, a Comprthcnfton ! which whenever it takes effect, (as I trull: in God it never will) cannot foil to fi- nilh the Deilrudion of the pureil Church in Chri- llendom. jlS yet the pureft Church in Chriftendom 5 how long it will continue fo, God only knows *, becaufc I doubt the Principles ofitsprofefs'd Members grow lefs and lefs Pure eveiy Day : I fpeak not only of thofc who attack it from ivithout^ but thofc that betray it from within. A gradual Relaxation of its Do^rine and Difcipline^ can never be attended with good Confcquences : I fear Herefy and Infi- delity giiin Ground upon us, as well as Schifm > and fome think we mult be veiy tender to all Three^ that we may give fufficient Proofs of our being good Proteftants. We have long fince difcarded all the Errors of the Church of Rome \ but are there no Errors befides thofe o£ Popery? And mull: we put our fclves upon a Level with Schifmaticksy Hereticksy Mahometans^ and Pagans^ in order to prove oui' felves good Proteftants ? What can be greater Glory to Popery than this ? And what a •greater Reproach and Scandal to the Reformation ? If to be a Proteftant be no more than not to be a Papifty the Jezvsy 1'urksy and Indians are Prote- ftants as well as we. M 4 MONDAV I6S r/&^ S C O URG E, Num. 27; Monday Auguft f. 1717. t5%^// Vain Words ha^ve an End? Or ^jvfoat emboldeneth thee^ that thou anfwereft? Job xvi. 3. I N C E the Publication of the ASl of Grace^ we are let into this important Secret, that the Number of the Lord o^ Bangor's Friends increafes dailys and that nothing might be wanting to the Confummation of his Lordjhif% Glory, not many- Days after, the truly Pious^ and indefatigable Mr. yohn Dunton openly declares himfelf in his Favour : And now the Chriftians in England were induc'd to beheve that the Controverfy, upon the Point of Reputation among our Divines, had been en- tirely finifh'd 5 a Debate, introduc'd upon the Stage by a Bijhop^ and feconded by all the Deifls, Infi- dels, and Madmen in the Kingdom: But alas J the Wounds are rip'd open afrefh, a new Supply 6f Oyl is thrown into the Flame, and the Chant or of Salifhury offers himfelf in Defence of a Sett of Principles that are a publick Nufance to Religion, and aftbrd us the moft perfect Idea of Apoftacyin the World : His remarkable Letter would very well admit of a Paraphrafe with Annotations^ and a fmall Trouble 1sruM.27. T/^^ SCOURGE. 169 Trouble would ferve to prove it the moft filly Per- formance that has appeared in Vindication of that wicked and defpcrate Caufe : It would be favour- able to call it the eafy and natural Effed of Spleen and Dotage, empty of Reafon and common Scnfe, the OfF-fpring of 'an ill-natur'd, llccpy, foundcr'd Genius, and to fay it carries nothing of Conviction with it, but of the Pride, Paillon, and Bafcncls of the Author 5 the Propoiitions he glories in arc fcaii- daloufly borrowed from a profligate Hackney Ncws- wn'itcr, and all the Wit and Jrchnefs he pretends to, is wretchedly vulgar and childifh : / know ci Man that JJmll he namelefs ! What more boyifh ? *Thoufands of Chriftkins as good as be will he ever able to produce f What more Impious and Uncha- ritable ? fFho but the Do6lor had the Impudence ! What more Sawcy ? Yes,^ faith S. No^ faith C. W hat more mean, infulting and ridiculous ? The Champion of Wales may now look down with Pleafure from his Triumphal Carr, upon the Spoils he has won in Controvei'iy j the Number oi: his Captives, the vaft Force of his Auxiliaries, and the long Series of Pomp and Pageantry, that ftruck fuch uncommon Luftre upon our Weekly News-Papers, and fill'd them with Immortal Pa- ragraphs, and never-dying Adsjcrtifements : Had I the Art of an Hiftorian, I would recite the moft illuftrious Succefles of this Campaign, draw the Plan of our Hero's x\cquilitions, and defcribe his Battel Pieces in Haifa Sheets too narrow a Com- pafs, I confefs, for fuch extenfive Prowefs, tho' it be the exact Mcafure of that Field, over which he hiLs fo often pranc'd, with Slaughter in his Front, and Vi6bory in his Rear. What remains but that his Lordiliip fhould now turn his Arms to New Conquejls : There is a World beyond thi^.narrow Ganges^ w^hcre he may offer at more Glorious Tri- umphs^ 170 T/^^ SCO URGE. NuM.zr/ umphs^ and weild his Pen to much nobler Purpofesj Sherlock and Snape^ 'Trap and La-w^ are as yet un- fubdu'd ; they are intrench'd behind many M^orks and FaftneJJes that ai'e yet unforc'd; J^^j' have cer- tainly Corre^ed and Chafiis'd his Sermon //^c^ /> w^i Printed^ and this Load of r^^/ Infamy is not yet taken off. If the Authority of the Church be not Jlbfo- lute^ let this lame Cafuiji fhew us where hcs the Appeal y if to the Scriptures, who fhall interpret ? If to Chrifi^ when will he interpofe ? Let him fhew the Common Senfe of the Laity ^ how they may he infinitely concern' d about ^xntcEftates^ Bodies^ Chil- dren^ and Pofierity j let him inilrud them how to anfwer the vain Attacks of Jdverfaries^ if the At- tack be from Scripture j let him tiy to Excommu- nicate the Devil^ after granting him the Privilege of Church- Member flnp j let him fhew us what ibrt of Go'uernment he has left in the Church, when he takes upon him to declare that Chrifl muft rei^n alone^ or not at all-y let him correct the Text, Be^ hold I have fet before you Life and Death^ if his Opinion be infallible, that there can be no Free- choice wherever there are Rewards j and let him fhut up Hell-Gates by virtue of that Indulgence^ which takes away all Pains upon the Account of Confcience-y let him engrave SINCERITY upon ^ Badge ^ and when 7 let him account for his oppoling what is Right ^wA Fitting to thtConflitut ion i?iFat^ and then let him produce that Right of PoffeJjlo» he fpeaks of, which is as andent as the Eternal La-jj of God : Thefe are bold Undertakings and AiTiamp- tions, that any other Writer would hardly be al- low'd Time to work up into a Dcmonllration. Who will inform the Secular Fewer of this, and foreftal him in that Refuge he fo often takes to, when he is prefs'd hard, and the Hunter is dole upon his Heels ? ,- But his Lordlhip is the 'Truly P rot efl ant Pillar^ the BritiJJj Noailks^ the Great Corri^rehender and Reconciler^ born to correct the Triflers of Antiqui- ty, the Saints^ Martyrs^ and Primitive Fathers of the Church, to fct thofe Story-Tellers^ and Cere- rnony- Mongers of the Reformation right j who has 1 Genius equal to thofe Things, and will no doubt, when he takes the Field, cYed:(uch 2. Spiritual Ba- bel^ as v/ill render the Fifty New Churches per- fe6tly Ufelefs and Solitary. It is not enough for a great Conqueror to go on with Succefs, and finifh a Campaign with Glo- ry, but he muft alfo approve himfelf to be a Man of Virtue, and clear in his private Charafter : But who can tell RAY for RAY, or drop STAR for STAR with his Lordfhip, when we turn this Bright Part of him to Publick View ? Is he caird upon to anfiver before a proper Judicatory ? He fays. He can forgive his being Villify d and Exposed \ a con- cife Way this, of pleading to Fndiclments^ impeach- ments^ and Reprefentations ! How rciign^d is that. 172 r>&^ SCOURGE. Num. 27; life me asyoupleafe ? But meddle with me if you darej upon Pain of Difaffe6lion : How Brave and Coura- geous ? How Kind and Tender is it, to avoid any mean or infamous Way of carrying on a CorJroverfy among the Clergy > and yet how Heroick to cry out, Meet me in the Daily C our ant? Alas! Iha've taught nothing hut what I found in Scripture \ a moft Evangelical Profeflion ! But who Oiall confute me out of Scripture^ fince Man is no Judge^ and / ha%'e an Engine againft e^uery Attack of that Kind ? I am for Univerfal Candour! a moft excellent Virtue 5 a Scheme that fets Chriftians and Infidels upon the fame Foundation j I profefs an unbounded Sincerity f What then are thofe y^^ho fincerely con- fote, cenlure, and condemn me ? Such is the Power and Force of Latitude^ Extent^ and Comprehenfion in Virtues^ as well as Principles / They who own Limitations and Exceptions, can never come up to this Standard, and muft fall fhort of him, whofe Right of Private Judgment makes all Errors I'ruc^ and his unbounded Sincerity fwallows up '^Faults and Vices in a New State of Innocence and Per- feEiion. It is impofliblebut the moft ftubborn Prejudices muft in Time yield to fuch a Reconciling T'emper ; and hence we may account for that Number and Vaiiety of Frieiids, which His Lordfloip's unlimited Charity has procured him. If he has loft his Sa- viour and his God^ and abdicated the Apoflles^ the Fathers^ the Bifhops^ Prefbyters^ Reformers^ and Profeffors of every Chriftian Church upon Earth, he has, in their ftead, drawn over to his Party j and made his Seconds in this Glorious Caufe, one Atheifty two Libertines^ as many Lying News-- Writers^ one Free-Thinker and a Half, two JDeifis^ three or four Prefhyterians^ one Chantor^ a Sham, ^aker^ and a Mad- Man, The Jtheijl ^ndDeiJl write I Num.27. ne SCOXJKGE: 173 write for HittIj who profefTes to write from Scrip-' ture : The Free-thinker is on His Side, who lays down one Great Univerfal Rule : The Libertine takes part with the Jlri^ Moraliji j and the News^ fVriter with that Man whofc folc Judge is ^rutb it felf: The Quaker leaves his chofcn liibe^ and affiib in pulling' down the Pale^ with the Flefhy Arm of Comprehenfion and Latitude: The rigid Prejhyterian applauds the Oppofer of all Church- DifcipUne : The Chantor of a Cathedral, defends one who fays there is no Vifihle Church upon Earth : And the Mad-Man tamely fubmits to the Head and Guide ohhc fober Party. What Wonders are here ! What Concord! What Unity! Thefe are the Blef- fed Effects of Uni'uerfal Charity -, and when could the Ordinary Peace-makers of the World have made fo fair a Puih for bringing in the Fulnefs of the Gen-' tiles/ I confefs his Lordjhip does not own thefe Faggot $ and Volunteers^ nor takes upon him to anfwer for this Rabble of Seconds and Auxiliaries : But let him either DifcipUne or Difmifs them > and it were better for him to Difband this Crew, or Difperfe them, than to correct the Mufier-roll of his Abfolutelies :indi Proper lies. He is enough concerned for his Re- putation, and fuch Company mufl touch his Bulky Chara^er^ and lay a greater Load of Infamy upon it, than his Crutch of a Dean will put him into a Con- dition of fupporting. I do not hear the Jefuit has yet openly declared himfelf Thefe Wretches may buoy him up fo long as he is able to make a Plunge againlt the Church > but could he once get ovixEflablifljment under Water, they would foon rife and devour him j and then it would be melancholy if he fhould f^re as the Reprobate does in the other World, according to the JeivifJj account of that State, as faft as one DeiH fcts him together, another pulls him to Pieces. Monday ^74 rioe SCOURGE. Num. 28. Monday ^/-^^/^/ 11. 1717. He {the Lord ]cihs) has an Unchangeable Priefthood. Heb. vii. 24. HEN Chriftianity was in her Infant State^ it was impoflible llie fhould ever be fupported, or find any Reception in the World, without fome~ Form and Regularity o^DifcipIine^ by which the Affairs of Religion fhould be dire&d, and tb •which thofe who were converted to the FairJo fhould Conform and pay their Obedience : It may ^not be amifs therefore to enquire what Method of Government was admitted in the Primitive Churchy and who thofe Peifons were, that were peculiarly fet apart to prefide in Ecdeftaftical Affairs^ and to attend upon the Publick Offices and Miniftrations : And the more Occafion we have for this Enquiry, to iuftify our own Excellent Conftitution^ which fo exa6^ly fuits with the Apofiolick Pattern, and to -expofe the wicked Infinuations of our Enemies, v^ho upbraid our Eftablifiment^ as flowing from the very Dregs of Popery^ when we can prove it to be of a Divine Original, and defcending thro' .many Centuries to us in a clear and iinpoluted Stream, ■and in the fame Purity^ which adorn'd the firft, and the mofl uncorrupted Ages of the Gofpcl. ' - • A fmall Num.28. Tbe SCOUVJ31. t7> A imall Acquaintance with Antiquity, will prove the principal Officer in the Church was the Pre- fident or Bifiop^ and he ufually cliofc-n out of the Prefbyters. This Holy Order Wiis always bcUev^d to be of D'rcine hftitution^ and the moil Learned Defenders of Prefhytery confefs, that it was of the Highcft Dignity in the Age fuccccding the ApolHcs : The Office of a Bijhop was to teach and inftru6t the People ; to Adminifier the Sacraments j to Ah- fohe Penitents j to Eje^ and Excommunicate ob- ftinate and incorrigible Offenders j to Prefide in the x\frembHcs of the Clergy \ to urge the Ohfer- lance of the Laws, and to appoint fuch indifferent Rites, as advanced the Beauty of Religion, and pro- moted the D?ccnt and Orderly Adminifti'ation of Divine Wcrihip. Thefe and many more were the unqueltionablc Pri^dlegcs of the Epifcopal Office, which becaufe it was veiy difficult and laborious for one Man to difcharge, efpecially where the Diocefe was of a large Extent, it was thought con- venient, upon the multiplying of Country Churches, to take in a Subordinate foit of BiJJjops^ which wc diftinguilli by the Title of Suffragans^ whofe Buii- nefs was to infpccl the Churches in the County y that lay more remote from the City where the Epifa^ pal See was, and which the Bifiop could not al- ways attend upon and overfee in his own Pcrfcn. Thefe were anciently call'd the Deputies of the Bi- Ihop, elcded out of Perfcns of the moll confum- mate Gravity and Experience, in Im.itation of the Sc"centy Difcipks^ whom our Lord m.ade choice of to fend abroad into rcm.ote Countries for th^ Propagation of the Gofpel. The Authority of theic Suffragans was much grenr.cr than tb.at ox the Prefbyters^ and yet much interior to the Bi- JJoop -y Bifhops really they were, tho' their Power was confin'd within narrow Limits > they were not 176 The SCOURGE. Num. 28. not allow'd to Ordain €\\}cs.^x Pre Jhyters ox Deacons^ unlefs peculiarly Licens'd to \x\yy \\\c Bijloop of the Dlocefe. They were to affift the Bifhop, to be prefent at Synods and Councils^ and had Power to give Letters of Peace^ whereby the Bifhop of one Diocefe was us'd to recommend any of his Clergy to the Biiliop of another j a Privilege exprefly de- ny *d to any Prefhyter whatfoever. As Chrillianity incrcas'd and prevailed, more particularly in the Cities of the Roman Empire, It was found neceflary yet farther to enlarge the Epifcopal Office •, and as there was commonly a Bi- fhop in every Great City^ fo in the Metropolis^ or Mother City of every Province (wherein the Courts of Judicature were held) there was an Archhijhop or Metropolitan^ who \i2AEcclefiafticalJurifdi6tion over all the Churches within that Province j he was Superior to all the Biihops within thofe Li- mits 'y to him it belonged to Ordain or to Ratify the Ordinations of all the Bifhops within his Pro- vince, fo that without his Confirmation they were look'd upon as Null and Void : Once at lead with- in the Year he was to fummon the Bifliops under him to a Synod^ to enquire into, and dire6t the Ecclefiaftical Affairs within that Province, to in- fpcd the Lives and Manners, the Opinions and Principles of his Bifliops, to admonifh, reprove, and fufpend them that were Diforderly and Irre- gular 'y to have the Hearing and Determination of Controverfies, and to regulate the Behaviour and Deportment of the Clergy. The Original of the Metropolicical Office feems to have been partly to comply with the Occasions of the People, who often reforted to the Metropolis for the Difpatch of their Affairs, and fo might fitly difcharge their Ecclefiaftical and Civil Concerns at once \ and bc- caufc partly of the great Confluence of the People that Num.28. T?^^ scourge: Vjj that City, that the Bifl)op of it might have Pre-» hcmincnGC above the rcll, and the Honour of \\\^ Church bear Ibme Proponion to the Dignity of the State. After this there arofe another Branch of the Epifcopal Office, as much fuperior to that of Mc tropolitans^ as theirs was to Ordinary Bifliops : Thclc werecaird Pr mates and Patriarchs^ and exercis'd a Jurifdiftion over many Provinces : To him be- longed the lafl Determination of all Appeals from all the Provinces in Differences of the Clergy j he had a whole Diocefc under his Infpcftion, which, according to the old Roman Notion of that Word, confifled of many Provinces. He Ordain' d all thd Metropolitans under him, fummon'd them to Coun- cils, corrected and reformed the Mifdcmeartors they were guilty of, and from his Judgment and Sen- tence, in things properly within his own Cogni- zance, there lay no Appeal. The Patriarchs^tho^ not Superior to Primates in Jurifdidtion and Power, were always cfleem'd more Honourable^ by reafon of the Dignity of thofe Cities wherein their See^ were fix'd, as at Rome^ Conftantinople^ Alexandria^ Antioch^ and Jertlfalem^ a Title and Dignity which they retain to this Day. The next Office to Bijloops was that of Pre/hy* ters^ whofe Duty was to Preach to the People, to Admnifier Baptilm, Confecrate the Eucharift, and in fome Meafure, to affiil the Bifhop in Publick Minillrations, and in difpatching the Affairs of the' Church > and tho* by their Ordination they had a Power conferr'd upon them to adminifter Holy Things, yet when the Church came to be fettled upon the Foundation of Regularity and Order, they wefe not admitted to exercife this Power without a Liccnlc from the Billiop of the Diocefe, N After I7S r/6^ SCOURGE. NUM.2S, After thefecame Deacons^ who were immedi- ately Ordain' d by the Jpoftles to attend upon, and take the Charge of thofe daily Provifions that were made for poor and indigent Chriftians, and were oblig'd to a peculiar Service at the Altar at the Adminiflration of the Sacrament. It was the Du- ty of a Deacon to diftribute the Money that was given for Maintenance of the Poor, and to wait upon the Celebration of the Eucharift^ which be- ing confecrated by the Bifhop or Prejhyter^ he de- liver'd the Sacramental Elements to the People. Belides this, the Deacons were admitted to Preach and to Baptize, and were employ'd in many Parts of the Puolick Service, efpecially in Guiding and Direfting the Congi*egations. The Number of them in any one Place was ufually refoain'd to aS*^- *uen^ this being the Number originally inftituted by the Apoftlesi they were appointed to aflift the Prefbyters^ to behave themfelves with all becom- ing Reverence and Refpeft, and not to ftt down before them, without a particular Leave and Com- mand. Out of the Body of thefe Deacons^ there was ufually one chofen to over-look the reft, the Arch- deacon^ an Office very ancient, and of that Au- thority in the Church, that the Perfon by way of Di'ftinSrion was call'd, the Eye of the Bijhop^ and his Duty was to infpc£t the Deportment of the Deacons^ and to take care of the fcveral Parts and Places of the Diocefe. This is a fmall Sketch of the Government of the Primitive Church, fufficient to demonftrate the Z)/- vine Right of Epifcopacy^y and the DiJiin5iion of the 1'hree Orders o^BifJoops^ Priefis^ and Deacons. The Chriftians of the earlieft Ages believ'd, that their Clergy receiv'd their Commillion from Heaven > and had that juft Regard for the Divinity of their T'itles^ that Num.28. 37^^ scourge; 179 that they us'd them with Feneration and Re^'e* rence^ as if they had been more than Moital : No Refped:, no SubmiHion was thought great enough, they would kifs their Hands, and embrace their Feet, wait upon them on the Road, and always receive and dilmifs them with the Univerfal Confluence of the People : The Roman Emperors would entertain them at their own Tables, tho* in the meanefl and mofl defpicable Habit j they feldom went a Jour- ney without the Company of a Bifhop, and fo in- finitely tender were they of the Dignity of the Priefthood^ that one of them profdVd he would cover their Infirmities with his Imperial Robe, Let this be an Immortal Example before the Eyes of Princes, who can never acquit themfelves as Defenders of the Faith^ without Defending and ■Aggrandizing the Privileges of the Clergy. Epis- copacy was the Or/^/>/^/ Government of the Churchy as Monarchy of the State ; and may they both eter- nally Flourifh, and may it be equally Criminal, may the fame Capital Punifhments, the fame Degrees of Vengeance and Publick Infamy purfuc the Pro- moters of Prefbytery in the one, as follow the T'ray- tor who would Murder his Sovereign to eftabliih a Common-wealth in the other. N 2 Monday ISO The SCOURGE. Num. 29. 4 ^^ 4. ^- d^. a> .* ^- -^ «^7 ^^ .% .^' ^ e- 4^ ^ .e- .^ .^- r^ ^ rS ^ ^^ v:iP "^ ^' s^ ^.^- s^-" -^ ^^ s^ ^a* '^- •:*• '4? '^-' '^- ^-^ ^ -;^-' ^ -^- ^ Monday Auguft ip. 171 7. IVhether it be right /;2 /'^^ Sight of God to hearken unto you more than imto God, judge ye. Acts iv. 19. ^^^pWlHE Bravely of the 7'heb^an Legion^ '^'^'^^^^ which formerly made fo illuftrious a Figure amone; the Martyrs of the Churchy the Author of the SCOURGE humbly recommends to the modern Gentlemen of the Sw&rd^ to infpire them, if poffible, with fOmc Sentiments of Piety and Chriftian Ho- nour, and to recover the Profellion of a Soldier from thofe bafe and impious Complaints, that make his Character appear perfedly infamous^ and induce him, out of a fer\dle Fear to difpleafe his General^ at once to renounce his Faith and become Apoftate to his God. The Hiilory that follows is a Proof likev/ife to Demonilration, how iacredly the un- faflnonahle Do6trine of PaJJive Obedience was e- fbeem'd in the firfl and pureft Ages, when a whole Legion^ whofe Employment muft ftrongly incline them to rcfijl^ chofc rather to fubmit to the Dif- cipline of IVar^ and be cut to Pieces, when it was in their Power to make a gallant Defence, and to cfcape with their Lives. Maximi- Num. 29. The S C O.U RG E.' 1 8 1 MJXIMINIANUS CMSJR, a wicked Man, and a fcvcre Perlecutor ot the Chri- fiians^ was lent into France to fapprcfs a Mutiny and Rebellion •, and to itrengthcn his Army, there was added to it a Band of Chrifiians^ callYi the Tbehtean Legion^ conlilling, according to the Manner of the Romans^ oi fix Thoufand^ fix Hundred fixty fitx faith- ful, expert, and refolute Soldiers. Coming to O^o- diirus (a Place in Savoy) and being ready to offer Sacrifice to the Gods, he caufes his Army to meet, and commands them, under a great Penalty, to fwear by the Altars of their Gods, that they would unanimoully fight againft their Enemies, and per- fecute the Chriftians as Enemies to the Gods 5 which the T'heh^an Legion no fooner underltood, but they prcfently withdrew to Agaunum^ a Place eight Miles off, to avoid, if it might be, the wick- ed and (iicrilegioLis Command, and to refrcfh them- felves, tired with fo long a March > but the Em- peror taking Notice of the Army as they came to fwear, quickly mifs'd the Legion^ and being angry, fcnt Officers to them to require them immediately to do it J who enquiring what it was that they were commanded to do, were told by the Mei- (engei-s, ^hat all the Soldiers had offefd Sacrifices^ and had taken theforemention''d Oath^ and that Csefiu* commanded them to return prcfently and do the fiame : To whom the Heads of the Legion mildly anfwer'd, nat for this Reafon they left Od:odurus, becaufe they had heard they fwuld be forc'd to facrifice j that being Chriftians, and that they might not be defiFd ivith the Altars of Devils, they thought themfehes ohlig^d to ivorfinp the Living God^ and to keep that Religion "which they had entertained in the Eaft, to the laft Hour of their Li'ves-y that as they were a Legion, they were ready to any Service of the U^ar ; N' X hut 182 r>&^ SCOURGE. NuM.2s>. hut to return to him to commit Sacrilege^ as he com- tnanded^ they could not yield. With this Anfwer the MefTengers retum'd, and told the Emperor J that they were refolv'd not to obey his Commands > who being tranfported with Anger, began thus to vent his PafHon : Do my Sol- diers think thus to flight my Royal Orders^ and the Holy Rites of my Religion ? Had they only defps'd the Imperial Majefiy^ it would have caWd for pub- lick Vengeance^ hut together 'with the Contempt of me^ an Affront is offer'' d to Heaven^ and theKom^n Religion is as much defpi'.'d as I am. Let the obfli- nate Soldiers know^ that I am not only able to vin- dicate my felf^ hut to revenge the S^uarrel of my Gods. Let my faithful Servants make hafle^ and difpatcb every tenth Man^ according as the fatal Lot fi all fall npon him : By this equal Death let thofe whofe Lot it fhall he to die firfi^ know^ how able Maximinian is^ feverely to revenge both himfelf and his Gods. With that the Command is given, tht Executioners lent, the Emperor's Pleafure made known, and e- very tenth Man is made a Sacrifice, who cheai- fully offer'd their Necks to the Executioners, and the only Contention amongll them, was, who fhould j(5r/? undergo that glorious Death. This done, the Legion is commanded to return to the reft of tlic Army. Whereupon Mauritius the General of the Legion^ calling it a little afide, thus befpake them ; ' I congratulate (moft excellent Fellow- Soldiers) * your Courage and Valour^ that for the Love of * Religion, the Command of Ccefar has made no ^ ImprelTion upon you \ you have feen your Fel- * low-Soldiers, with Minds full of Joy, undergo- * ing a glorious Death 5 how much afraid was I, ^ leit being arm'd (and how eafy is it for fuch to ^ do fo) you ihould, under a Pretence of defending f tbemj have cndeavour'd to hinder their happy Funerals. Num.29. 57^^ scourge. 185 F\inerals. — ^- Sec, I am encompafs'd round with the Bodies of my Fellow- Soldiers, whom the difmal Executioner has torn from my Sicie> I am befprinkled with the Blood of the Saints^ my Clothes dy'd with the Relicks of their facred Blood j and fhall I doubt to follow their Deaths whofe Example I fo much congratulate and ad- mire ? I remember we once took this Military Oath^ that with the utmoll Hazard of our Lives we would defend the Common- wealth > this we then engag'd to the Emperors^ tho' no Hea'-jenly Kingdom was promis'd to us j and if we could promiie this out of Devotion to a Military Ser- vice, what then is to be done, when Chrift pro- mifes fo much to them that engage with him ? Let us wiUingly expofe our Lives to this moft: precious Death j let us fhew a mafculine Cou- rage, and an unviolated Faith. Methinks I fee thofe blefled Souls {landing before Chrift's Tri- bunal, whom the Emperofs Officer jull now ba- niih'd out of their Bodies j that's the true Glo- ry which will recompence the Shortnefs of this Life with a blcfled Eternity: Let us, by the Meilengers, unanimoufly return this Anfwer to the Emperor j M^e acknowledge^ Ciefar, that we are your Soldier s^ and took up Arms for the De- fence of the Empire \ nor did we ever bafely be- tray our Trufl^ or for fake our Station^ or defer ve that the Brand either of Fear or Cowardice floould be fit upon us J nor fJwuld we flick now to obey your Commands^ did not the Laws of Chrifiianity^ wherein we have been infiru6ted^ forbid us to wor- fhip Devils J and approach the polluted Altars of the Gods. JVe underfiand you are refoWd^ either to defile us with facrilegious JVorfoip^ or to terri- fy us with a Decimation : Spare any farther Search concerning us^ know we are allChrifHans^ our Bo- N 4. ' dies 1 34^ The S CO URGE. Num. 29. ' dies we yield fubjeci to your Power ^ hut our Souls ' we referve entire for Cbrijf^ the Author and the ' Sainour of them. This was no fooner fpokcn, and univeifally a- greed to by the Legion^ but it was carry'd to the Eiuperor^ who, exafperated with fuch a generous Refolution, commmdcd a fecond Decimation^ which w^as immediately executed, and the reft, as before, commanded to return to Ociodurus 5 hereupon Ex'- uperius the Enfign^ catching up his Colours, thus addrefs'd himfclf to them : ^ You fee me, mofi excellent Fello-w- Soldiers^ ^ holding thefe Enfrgns of Secular Warfare j but * thefe are not the Arms that I call you to, thefe ' are not the Wars to which I excite yotir Coii^ ^ rage and Valour j 'tis another kind of fighting *- that we are to chufe ; they are not thefe Swords ' that muft make our Way into the Eleavenly King-^ ' dom j we ftand in need of an undaunted Mind, * an invincible Defence, a maintaining the Faith ' which we have given to God, to the very laft. ' Let the difmal Executioner go and carry this ' Meflage to his bloody Mafler, and tell him thus : ' We are, O Emperor^ your Soldiers^ but withal ' (which we freely confefs) the Servants of God^ ' to you we owe military Service^ to him Innocen^ ^ cy-j from you we have receiv'd Wages for our ' Labours, from him we had our very Lives and ' Beings •, we cannot herein obey the Emperor, fo ' as to deny God, the Author of oiir Lives, and of ' ^otirs too, whether you w^ill or no. Nor is it, ' Sir, any Defpair (which is always lliouteil in the ' greateft Straits) that makes us thus refolute againft ' you j we have, you fee. Arms,, and yet malce no ^ Refinance, chufing rather to die than to over- ^ come^ and defirous rather to periili innocent^ than ^ %o live rehellious and revengeful : If you have ^ Mind Num.29. jr>6^ scourge. ^85 ' Mind to appoint us to any graiter and fcvcrcr ' Torments, we arc ready for them. Chriflians ' we are, and therefore cannot perfecute thoje that ^ are fo. You muft needs acknowledge the un- * conquerable Coiu'age of this Legion j we throw ' down our Arms, your Officer will find our right .' Hands naked, but our Breafts arm'dwirh a tmc * Catholick Faith y kill us, and trample on us, we ^ undauntedly yield our Necks to the Executio- ' ner's Sword j thcfc Things arc the mofl pleafmt ' to us, while (etting light by your lacrilegious At- ' tempts, we hailen apace to the Heavenly Crown. MAXIMIANUS being told this, and defpair- ing now to break their Conftancy, commands his whole Army to fall upon them and cut them off, which they did accordingly, without any Deference of Age or Perfon, mangling their Bodies, and then taking the Spoils 3 the Emperor having fo appoin- ted, that whoever kiU'd any of the Legion^ fhould have the Spoils of him whom he kill'd. And thus they died with their Swords in their Hands, when Ithey might have preferv'd then* Lives (efpccially in a Place fo advantageous) by force of Anns, m^ to be fure haye fold them at the deareft Rate. Monday IS6 The S CO URGE. Num. jOi Monday Augujl z6. 1717. Son of Many be not afraid of them^ neither be afraid of their Words, though Briers and Thorns be with thee^ and thou doji dwell a- mong Scorpions; Be not afraid of their Words y norbedifmaydat their Looks, thd they be a Rebellious Houfe. Ezck. ii. 6. HAT Son muil in vain pretend to g. Reward for his Obedience, who can fee a beautiful and mo ft indulgent Mother proftitutcd to the barbarous Rage of an Enemy, plunging the murdering Steel into her Bofom, and at the fame time ftand gazing and unconcern'd, or languifh in fmitlefs Sobs and Lamentations, when he ought to be infpir'dwith Refentment, and immediately fly to the Redrefs of Innocence : This Reflection was the flrft In- ducement that made Way for this weekly Appeal to thePublick: It was difficult to obferve the ma- licious Entei-prifes of the Dijfenting Faction -y it was impolliblc (for the Author of this Entertain- ment at leafl) to fit down with folded Arms and weeping Eyes, when fuch a Scene of Defolation was before him, without offering totheutmoft to wreft the fatal Dagger out of the Hands of thofe, whofe Dc^Lrines provoke them to ihcath it in the Bowels Num.30. !r>6^ SCOURGE. 157 Bowels of the Church of England^ and to pour her facred Blood upon the Earth as Water. In the Profecution of this Dcfign, it would be Vanity in me to exceed the Limits of a pri- vate Perlbn, it would be Prefumption to pre- fcribe Meafures to my Superiors in the Manage- ment of this important Aft-air > but within my own Sphere^ I cannot but think my felf under im in- difpeniable Obligation, I pronounce it the Duty of every particular Man within the Bounds o^ De- cency and Suhmijjion^ to oppofe the impetuous Tor- rent of thofe wicked and unpeacetlil Opinions, which once drowned this Nation in Milciy and Ruin, and now alarm us with continual Appre- henfions of the fame cruel and dreadful Inundation. I think my felf in Confcicnce bound, by the Fi- delity I owe my Sovereign, and the Regard I en- tertain for my Country, to fupprefs the Growth of fuch dangerous Principles, which drive Men headlong, under the Pretences of Religion, into the moll defperate Extremities, and force them upon the horrid Precipice of Damnation it felf j that my Fellow-Subjc(51:s may at once have aPro- ipc6t of the Guilt and the Danger, and fo far con- itilt their own and the Good of Poflcrity, as to fecure the Happinefs of the prefcnt ani future Ages. And I efteem my felf juftify^d in this, by the Example of the Fanatick Rabble themfelves, fince the Dihgence and reltlefs Induftry, to a fingle Man of the Party, by which they purine their wicked Defigns, make it abfolutely the Duty, as well as Intereft, of all true EnglijJrmen^ unanimouily to make head againft them, and endeavour to crufh the Cockatrice in the Egg, which otherwife will moil certainly difclofea fiery jflying Serpent. The 1 8 S T/je SCOVKG E. Num. 3 p. The Method I have follow'd llnce my firft Ap- pearance, I ilill conceive to be the moil fuccefsful Expedient J I lliall therefore expofe xhc Hypocrites naked, and ftrip'd of their artificial Beauties 5 I fhall take off thofe falfe Jewels of Piety and In- nocence^ which flrike with fo much Luftre, and fo fatally impofe upon the Minds of credulous and cafy People ^ I fhall offer them to be furvey'd by the Light of Nature, Reafon and Religion, and with the moll impartial Juftice, reprefent them to the World in the Glajfes of their own making ; and if they do not approve of the Figures and Images they refle6t, they mufi: lay the Blame up- on their own Deformities, which will always af- ford them a Shape no lefs terrible and monffrous ; and I am verily perfuaded, were the Commonalty ()^ this Nation throughly inffmded (by thofe whofe Duty it is to perform that charitable Office) in the black Confequences, that naturally follow the Prinr ciples of the Separatift > were it poffible to convince the deluded Vulgar, that under all thofe fan6i:imo- nious Appearances, this whining about Gofpel-Li- herty^ and Perfecution of Confcience^ this puking ^t Ceremonies^ this bellowing againflP (?/?(?;;)■, there lay once concealed the Ruin of their Country, the Subverfion of Government, Slavery^ Infamy and Rebellion > it would be Infatuation with a Ven- geance, to believe the Delufion would again be fwallow'd i even Nature and Humanity would in- fpire Men with Indignation, to abandon thofe Z?^/- Tifi Incendiaries^ as the Plagues of human Kind, and the mofl dangerous Impollors. Whatever was the true Caufe, whether a miftakcn Charity^ or a Principle of Cowardice^ I have obferv'd, that mofl of what has been lately advanced againfl the Schifmatick Clan^h-^is been hand- led with the fixme Caution and Tcndernefs as a Man tiUvCS Num. 3 o. The S C O U RG E. i s takes hold of n. Bramble with a naked Hand j but I cannot but believe that the conccahng fome ne- ccflary Truths from^ the Populace, the want of cxpoling the Confequences ot fome fatal Opinions, and difplaying the Influence they formerly had up- on the publick TranquiUty, have contributed too much to increafe the Number of 6' and if I offer to abufe their Chara6i:er, or reprefent them in folfe Coloui*s, I beg no Qiiarter, I expect no Mercy : But it would be criminal in me to fear when I contend for the 'Truths which to their eteraal Confulion v/ill ftand the Teft, and abide the Tryal ^ and let the moft violent of the Fa6i:ion, fbberly and in rctir'd Thoughts, ftate their Actions and Principles, I peifuadc my fclf they would foon ihcw their Gra- titude i 90 neSCOVKG E. Num. 3 o. titude for the Information : But be that as it will, by this means, I wafh my Hands of all the Mife- rics and Misfortunes that may fall upon my Coun- try for want of Precaution, and I mall except my felf out of the Number of thofe Fools and Cow- ai'ds, whofe Deitiny may be to periih by their Silence, And here I would defirc the Separatift to obfeiTe, that whatever Severity of Expreflion may fall front me in expofing the Fallliood and Impiety of his Dotlrincs^ I fnall always entertain the moft Chri- ftian Charity for his Per [on : I abhor the Thoughts of Perfecution , I fcorn that bafe Way of anfwering Arguments by exafperating the Government againft my Adverfary : I profefs that Efteem for the Mo- deration of the Church of England^ that I would not blemifn her unfpotted and virgin Tendemefi with the leaft Sprinklings of Blood or Cruelty : It is my Abhorrence of thofe violent Methods, that provokes me to contend fo importunately againft the Infection of fome Opinions, v/hich, if not (up- prefs'd, may open the Feins of thefe diftra6i:ed Na- tions : It is againft the immortal Mifchiefs of the Principles^ and not the mortal Lives or Fortunes of the ProfeJ/ors^ that I level all my Artillery j and that Pofterity may learn Wifdom from the Suffer- ings of their Anceftors^ that they may diftinguifh the eternal Bleflings of Monarchy from the Confu- fion of Ufurpation-y that they may difcover the Tmly Apoftolical, Loyal and Obedient Church of England^ from the falfe, fchifmatical. True Prote^ ftant Conventicle j and that they may underftand the Difference between thofe glorious Stars, the Angels of tlie Churches, the Bijhops^ and thofe New Lights, thoie Wandring Meteors, the Lay- elders^ for whom i% refcrv'd the Blacknefs of Dark- nefs for ever. Sir, Num.30. 316^ scourge. 191 Sir, THE difFc^rent Charaders of H^jig and Tory\y bear fo confiderable a part in the laft Centu- ry of our Englijh Hiftory^ and are fo extenfiv^e in their prcfcnt Influence, that the whole Body of the Nation^ however otherways diftinguifh'd, come under one of thefe Denominations. The original Meaning and Foundation of the Words^ had no other Ground than what Fancy and Malice gave Birth to, and fodefei*ve no farther Re- gard than Sounds without Meaning, fit only to fwell the Throats of the Mob, and keep up the Huzza of a Bonefire. But as in their AppHcation, they are fo remarkably dilHnguifh'd in the Genius and "Temper of thofe that avow them, that one would think it impoflible they fhould breath the fame common Air, and live together under the fame Clime y the following Story I prefume may not improperly be prefented, to give fome feint Ideas of the Difference between them. In theCourfe of the Great Rebellion^ when the People were dreadfully deluded to believe, they could not fet up the Kingdom of Chrift^ without pulling down that of their Sovereign j among o- ther Tranfactions, ^ we are told of an Officer be- longing to the Rebels, who, - after fome Skimiifh, being taken Prifoner, with his Party, bytheRoy- ahfts, was modeftly afk'd by one of them, How it came to pafs^ that a Gentleman of his feemingly good Senfe and Education^ could be induced to en- gage in a Caufe fo very unjuft ? His reply was. He had not fo ftridlly examined the Merit of the Catife^ as now he was convinced he ought ; but one thing he could not but 72ierition^ that had prejudiced hirn^ (and t0i The SCOURGE. Num. 30: (and he heliev'd a great many more againft his Ma- jefty^s Service) was the Licence taken among the Cavaliers of Swearing and Drinking. The Anfwer to thiswasj Admitting the Charge were true ^ it was highly unpardonable^ fo excellent a Prince as his Ma- jeftyfljould fuffer for the Irregularities of his Soldiers j and hefides^ hd ought farther to have confidefd^ the Crimes he mentioned were entirely Perfonal, and the Vices of Men > whereas the Malice^ 'Treachery^ Hy- pocrify^ and fever al other unparalleVd Vices^ which made up the very Effence of His Caufe^ were the Vices e?/" Devils. Yoursj Sif'^ i3c. MoNDAT Num.31. 7:&^ scourge, 193 .♦A;lii|i;li^^4A4*-«^**Ai;j,4,;li^4itAA,J;4vtvji^jj,^iiij(.j|lij,vjiVi,^^4i, |^^€^ -^"i^^^^- ^^^^^^ -^.^^1 Monday September z. 1717. O full of all Subtilty, and ^//Mifchicf, thon Child of the Devil ! ABs xiii. 10. p^^^l T hiis been the conflant Unhappineis of the Englijh Nation to fuffer the moft terrible Conviilfioiis, and to lie in a fa- tal Poilure of Confufion and Difordcr upon the i\ccount of Religion. The original Enemy of our Church is the Papift^^ he appeared in the Infancy of the Reformation^ and ever lince has been invincibly indultrious to ruin the happy Eftablifument-y being perfuaded, that the Papal Power and Obedience mull fink low in the Opinion of Mankind, fo long as the Realms of Great Britain,^ that bear fo confiderable a Figure in the Chriftian JVorld^ continue in a Re^:^olt from the Faith^ and keep wide fo defperate a Breach in the Roman Communion. The Churdd of England has been always jullrly cfteem'd the omy Baifion of the Proteftant Inte- rej% and has produc'd fo illuftrious a Succejpcn of able Champions for the "Truth^ as in all human Profpcd, will in Time convince the World of the Apoilacy of Rome from the Chriftianity of the pureft Ages, and induce them to file off the Shackles of blind Homage and Submijfton^ which Ignorance O and 194 The SCOURGE. Num. 31, and the RomijJo Artifice have faftcncd upon the Hands of all Princes and Potentates under the Pa- pal Jurifdiition y and whatfocver fbme People may- imagine, there is nothing at all formidable to Rome in tnofe little ScUs and Scparatifts^ who by their own citxxnVLy fubdrciding Principles, w^ill, like the Sheaf of Arrows in the Fahle^ be feverally broken, without any Difficulty 5 but the Church of England is a compa61: Body, firm and well fet together 5 fhe wears fo much of the Apoflolick Innocence and Antiquity, both in Doftrine and Difcipline, that St. Peter's Sword can never hope for an uni- verfal Monarchy, without undermining the Foun- dations of our Conftitution j to accomplifh which glorioi;i^Defign, the Enemy infpires himfelf and all his Engines^ with all poiGible Application and Di- ligence. And fince the Roman Statefmen have long de- fpair'd by Force and military Violence to recover thefe Kingdoms unda* the Dominion of the Ploly See^ they betake themfelves to Stratagem^ and art- fully attempt to fubvert that Reformation by Di- wijions^ which they were unable to overthrow by a more open AlTiiult j it being a Maxim in the Con- clave^ That there is no other TFay to prevent Peo- ple from turning Hereticks, and for the Recovery of others again to the Mother Church, than by a Diver fity of DoClrines. Among all the Religious Orders o^ Rome^ the Jefuits were foon dilliinguifh'd as a Body of Men, fubtil, entcrprifing, and audacious, acbed by invin- cible Refentments againil the Englifh Settlement, and accordingly were ordain'd to manage in this meritorious Undertaking, and difpatch'd very early to create Schifms and Sepa^-ations in this rerorm'd Church : Their Comii)ilTion gave them full Powers to revive the moll infamous Herefies, to profefs the Num.31. T/j^SCOUHGE. 195 the rrioli abominable Principles, to fwcar and for- fwear, to appear in ^vhatevcr Difguife, fo that the Populace might be inflam'd againll the EftabliJJ:i' ment^ and fix'd at an irreconcilcable Dillance from the lawful Communion : And thefe EmiJ/arks in a fhort Time, became Mafters in this execrable Po* licy-y they infingated themfelvcs into the Con-ven^ tides of the Pm-itafis j could bellow loudly, and cry out Popery upon the Ceremonies of our Church ; revile his Holinefs himfelf, and were fo eminent in the Gift of Extemporary Devotion^ that the Peo- ple were quickly prafcl out of their Religion and Allegiance j they prcfs'd them to throw off the 'Tyranny of Bilhops, to infill upon a Liberty of Con-- fcience^ to pull down Babylon^ and took hold of all Occafions to run them into open HoftiHties and Rebellion againll the Civil and Ecclefiallical Pow- ers, and all this in hopes to dcflroy us with our own Weapons, and ere6l the Roman Trophies upon the Ruin of the Church of England^ the only Bul- wark of the Protefiant Faith. To give the clearer Light to thefe Difco'\'eries, let us look back a few Ages ago, and wefhall find a very remarkable Hiilory in the Reign of Qiiccn Elizabeth^ of one Faithful Commin^ a Roman Di* vine^ who came over into England^ and was gene- rally reputed as a very zealous Protefiant \ his Icem- ing Piety procur'd him a very great Chara6ler with the inferior People, v/ho were more particularly pleafed with him for his fevere Railleiy againll the Church of Rome^ and his bitter InveAives againft the Pope himfelf r This Impoflor was at lall de- tededj but by an Efcape avoided the Hands of Jullice, and return'd to Ro77ie. The Pope imme- diately imprifon'd him for the Abufes he had fpread about him m England -, but Commin writ to his Holinefs^ and acquainted him, that he had fome- O z thing 195 !r>&^ s c o u RG e; num. 5 T : thing of Importance to communicate to him, if he could have the Honour to be admitted into his Prefence : The Pope fcnt for him next Day, and iis foon as he faw him, Sir^ faid he, / have heard the Character you have beftow'd upon me^ and my Predecejfors^ among your Hereticks in England, by reviling my Perfon^ and expofmg my Church : Com- min reply'd, / confefs my Lips have utter'' d what my Heart never thought j but your Holinefs little imagines the confiderable Service I have done you : To which the Pope returned, Hoiv^ in the Name of Jefus, Mary, and all the Saints, haft thou done fo ? Sir^ faid Commin^ I preach'' d againft fet Forms of Prayer, and I calVd the Englifh Liturgy, a ^ranflation of the Mafs Book \ I have made the People fond of Extempore Prayer, and by that means^ the Church of England is become as odious to my Profelytes^ as Mafs is to the Church of England, and this will be a Stumbling-Block to that Church "while it is a Church : Upon which the Pope com- mended him, and gave him a Reward o£ two thou- fand Ducats for his good Service. Let the Separatift now with Confufion blufh, and no more ftretch his Mouth with the Outcries of Popery againft the Ceremonies of our Church -y let him obferve, how this Arrow originally came out of the Romiflj Quiver, and be afham'd to Jharpen his Sword at the Forges of the Philiftines -■, let him fuffer himfelf to be difabus'd, and pull away the Scales from his Eyes, which obftiud: his Profpe6t into the Danger of Separation, that naturally in- troduces Popery^ tho' without Defign, and makes way for that Myftery of Iniquity^ that coft his Forefathers ib much Blood and Treafure to call out. Would the Limits of my Province permit me, I could inrtance the Perjury of Heth^ a Jefuit in the Num.51. T^^SCOURGE: 197 the lame Reign, who fwore by the Holy God^ that he had renounced all the Errors of the Church of Romcy when at the fame Time he was in the /«- tereft of the Popc^ and an eminent Preacher among the Euglijh DiJJenters. I could inform you of the Confeffion of a Jefuit at St. Oniers^ who declared, T'hey were twenty Tears hammering out the Se6l of the Quakers 3 I could relate how many of that Or- der bore CornyniJJions in the Rebel Aryny at Edghill^ and were prefent in their military Habits at the Murder of King Charles the Martyr j I could dif- cover how late Reigns have been infefted with thefe Roman Engineers > but I fpare thefe fcverc Truths, and recommend this Advice to our Ene- mies of the Separation^ that they would fearch with Caution into the Credentials of their teacher s^ fincc the Jefuit naturally Earths himfelf in a Conventicle^ and aillimes all Difguifes to promote Divifions^ and advimce the Interell of the Roman See. The Laws of England ^ it mull be own'd, have provided with abundance of Wifdom to difcover and puniih thefe Religious Vermin j but the moll exact Laws being fubje6t to Evafions, the Politick Fraternity^ wx perceive, will flill venture their Man^ hood in this IJland^ and under the Cant of Perfe- cation^ of renouncing and becoming Protefiants^ infi- nuate themfelves into the Families of our Nobility^ and very plentiRilly diffufe the loofeil Principles under the Sanction of the greatefi Patronage : But I am confident, Poflerity will Ihmd amaz'd to ob- ferve, how affectionately a Prelate of the Churchy who values himfelf for his extraordinary Ser\'ice againll the Popijh Caufe^ affords his venerableVro^ teclion to a Member of this fcandalous Orderly and Sacrifices the facred Charafter of the whole Englijh Clergy y to jullify the Conduct of a IVretch^ who O 3 could I9S. 316(? SCOURGE. Num. 31; could not but confcfs of himfelf, that ''' be got Ap- platife in his Profefjion by the mere Dint of Impudence : What an Embeliifhment will it be to his Lordfiip's Life^ that he appears in Vindication of a coyrccrted Jefait^ and at the fcrne time declares, that "j" there are ?io Words nor Oaths for ixihich he ecinnot fiyid an e-vafive Inter pretation^ c-cen ivhilfi he takes them, I muft beg leave to fay, that My Lord of Bangor^ in the Stream of his late Conduct, is even and con- fiflent : His Courtefy and good Nature are really admirable^ when he choofcs to break through the moll ficred Ties of Religion, and give up the Reputation of his o^jun Order^ rather than violate the common Laws of Hofpitality^ or be thought not to act like a Gentleman j but to palm upon us the Recantation of a Jefuit^ who by the Rules of his ProfeiHon has a Licence to Lye^ Cant^ and Re- cant^ tramples upon the Laws of God and Man ^y Authority^ trines with the moll folcmn Appeals and Proteftations, and elleems Perjury meritorious ! Sure, his Lordftnp puts hard upon l]it Ignorance o^ the prefent Age^ and thinks us but meanly read in the liifiory of our own Nation. The Protefiant Name of Ben. Bangor^ may perhaps fki'een this FeU low from the Notice of the civil Magistrate, but we prefume his LordfJjip will remember the Great Charter of Nature^ and give every private Per/on leave to judge of his Sincerity for himfelf. To give the greater Evidence to what I have faid upon this Subject, I fliall, for the Benefit of the EngUfJj Reader^ tranllate a Copy of that Pub- lic k Inftrument^ a Jefuit receives from the Pope^ when he is fent as an EmiJJary to advance the In- tereji of Rome in any of the Reformed Churches. * Pag. 6. t Pi'ef- P^S- f> WHEREAS Num.31. 7>5^ scourge. 199 c Tir THERE AS We (the Pope) have found V V ' ''^^^^ ^'^'b^ ^^'^^ Hereftes increafing in fe- ^ veral Colonies, Principalities, Rcahns and Conn- ' tries, fubjc^l to the liicred Sec of St. Peter our ^ Prcdeceflor, and they deferting our Turifdi<5tion ' with their blafphemous and railing Writings a- ' gainft Us, Our Ceremonies, and Apoltolick Pri- * vilcges, granted unto \]s^ and Our SuccefTors ' from God, and formerly generally acknowledged ' by Emperors, Kings, and Princes to be Ours, ' and Our Prcdeccflbrs Due and Right. ' We therefore, in the Name of the Holy Tri- ' nity, of the BlefTed Mother of God, the Virgin ^ Mary^ of St. Peter and St. Paul^ in the Name ^ of the Holy Hoft of Heaven, of the Arch-Angels ' and Angels of the Holy Apoftles, Saints, and ' BlefTed Martyrs, do Will and Authorife the Wife ' and Learned of our Clergy^ expert in Divine Ser- ' vice, to labour, endeavour, and de-vife all Man" ^ ner of Devices to be devifed^ to abate and con- ' found tho^cHereJies repugnant to our facred Laws, ' that thereby thefe Heretkks might be either re- ' call'd to confefs their Errors and acknowledge ' Our Jurifdi6tion, or that a total Infamy may be ^ brought upon them and their Pollerities, by a * perpetual Difcord and Contention amongtbemfelves^ ^ by which means they may either fpeedily perifh ^ by God's Wrath, or 'continue in eternal Difference ' to the Reproach of Jevj^ "Turk^ Heathen^ nay ^ to the very Devils themfelves. O ± ' Monday 100 7^6^ SCOURGE. Num. 32; ^ ^^ -^ -^ <^ ^ ^^ # «^ «:^ ^ ^ S fe -^ ^ i" ^^ ^ ^ ^ s^ ^ Monday September 9. 1717. The Philiftiiics curfed htjn by his Gods, i Sam, xvii. 43. H E Experience of the befl of Men too fatally confirms this Melancholy Truth, that there are few fo happily retir'd as not often to be offended wil\\X.\ieBlaf' phemies of Rakes and Atheifls^ under pretence of expofing the feveral Fa^ions in Reli- gion : This is no fuch News, but that we are al- ways lamenting the Occafion, and bewail the thriving of Profanenefs, by the Countenance it receives from our Divifions > yet for all this ho'vj few abate any thing o^ thdv Fiercenefs ? How few will facrifice even the moll difingenuous Arts of Contention^ Calumny^ and Railing^ to the Safety iind Honour of our common Faith r The two following Letters naturally led meiri- to thefe Refle6tions : There you may view De- hamhery and Atheifm in Triumph, infulting upon the Ruins of every thing Good and Sacred^ and wounding the Chriftian Name through the w^/^^^r^/- (?i Sides of its ProfelTors: And certainly, there was never any other Age in which ferious Things have been fo impudently aflaulted by i)r(?//j and j5/#^£^«^5 who Num.5 2.' r/^^ scourge. 2or -who have been the Contempt of all wife Times, but are the Darlings and IVits of thefc. The exquilitc Invention of our Alodern Touth ! It is but laughing gracefully at the ¥ops^ the Grave^ the Learned^ the Religious Fops, and a Man inilantly fprings up a M^it in fpight of Ignorance and Impertinence : Away with the Pedantry and dull Formalities c>f former Days ! We are nnife upon Terms more cafy and generous ! Our Age hasmoie6'/)/V/>and Flame -^ our Conveifation, yes ! our ^cirtuous Conveifation, has wonderfully refin'd and improv'd us ! Thus fiu* we are come, and the Infection fpreads, fo that there is fcarce a little '■oain Thing that h.as a mind to be modijlo^ but fets up for a Deridcr of God and of Religion. But if Religion be an Impoflure^ it is hardly (b thin and tranjparent as to be immediately look'd through by every pwilling Sot or ^whiffling Bully : They find the Folly ind Falfiood o^ l^oWgionl Let them invent new FaJJjions and new Oaths^ (things iiiitable to their Genius) but for fliame, let thcni not talk of Difcoveries about Religion -, or if they muft be meddhng here^ let them firll learn their Catechifms^ and knowwhatiCf//^/c;^ /J3 and when (hey underftimd what ihty feoff wi^ let them feoff on if they can. To the Author of the Scol'rge. Sir, Jug. 18. EVERY Monday Morning am I fogg'd to Death with yom'd a nm'd Scourges, my^^^^ JVlother reads your Godly Meditations, and mdccs me fetch the Great Bible^ and double down the I'ext', then Silfer Betty expounds upon it for an Hour together, ajid there am I forc'd to fir and lift 2 OS T/oe SCOUKG^, . Num. 3 2 . lift up my Eyes as grave as any Country Parfon : When LeElure is over. Siller prefcntly falls upon my Bones, and plagues me out of my veiy Life> {lie calls me Hcretkk^ Schifmatick^ Fanatick^ and the Devil knows what : I give her her Way j I tell her I am no Papift^ I agi*ee in Fundamentals^ I am for King George^ I am a Gentleman^ and a true Protcftant : She anfwers me, fo is the King of Morocco^ and will have it to be nothing to the Purpofe : I put it off with an Air^ and fay, I can't help that, the wifeft Men of the Age ufe' the fame Arguments, and I mull be rul'd by the Learyied : I confefs, I lo\'c to teaze the Girl^ but fhe is ge- nerally too hard for me, and then to be reveng'd, I fend for the Warming Pan^ and call her Jaco- bite j this makes her mad, and fets her a crying, and fo the whole Family goes together by the Ears. Now, Sir, I take this Opportunity to let Sifler know, that I do not think my felf concerned at all in the Controverfy, and write what you will, it does not at all affeft me, as I can find 5 for to tell you the Truth, ifs all a Bite^ Religion is a 7nere Trade^ in my Mind, there's little in't : And where's the Schifmatick now ? I confefs, it is ne- celTary for Old Folks to believe fomething on't, it chains them up tw^o or three Hours in a Day agree- ably enough, fo that a body is not plagu'd with their nonfenfical hum-drum Advice 5 but for Toung Gentlemen^ and the^^y World^ Vi flattens Conver- fation llrangely, and perfectly ilifles the natural Vivacity of our Genius. My Ancellors, Sir, I'd have you obfeiTC, were always dillinguilh'd by their extraordinary Zeal for what you call the Eftablijhment of the Church of England^ they were plain, downright, harmlefs Chrifiians^ of very little Penetration^ and fo drudg'd on in the beaten Road-, and as far as I can difcover, I may Num. 3 2^ TheSCOVKGE.^ loi I may claim it as a peculiar Honour, that I am the firll Atheift of the Family 3 indeed the Secret coll me a pretty deal of Pains, and fome Money 5 I was forc'd to jfend high^ and keep the bejl of Company^ but now I have found it, I think I may depend upon it, and acquiefce in it : My Tounger Brother I fhall take under my own Care, and poflefs him early with the poUteft Principles : The little Dog I think ir/iproz'cs j he is not above Six^ and he be- gins to make Mouths at the Chaplain already, and Ipits thro' the Key-hole ycxy prettily ixl Sifter^ when file fays her Prayers j I defign him for a Seaman^ and if he be manageable as lie grows up, I'll en- gage to provide for him, and qualify him for a brilt Officer, either by Sea or Land. It was by Accident, I alTure you, that I fuc- ceeded fo well in thefe manly D if co'veries -y and had my Father liv'd, he would always have made mc follow him to Churchy and then it would have been difficult to over-rule the Prejudice of Education j I mull have gone along with the fuperft it io us Herd^ and lain under the Neceffity of xccd-wmg fomething of Religion : But w^hen Mamma once let me llay behind to play with the Coachman^ I could drop in at any time of the Prayers ^ all that fhe expected was to bring home the Text^ and for a Penny I could have the Proofs into the Bargain : I mull ov/n, I was a little uneafy at firfl, for I had heard fo ma- ny diftnal Stories about Hea-vcn^ Hell^ and Judg- ment^ that I could not at once forego tliofe Ih'ong and early Impreffions, but my Acquaintance with the Toufig J'emplers^ and raking upon Sundays^ fooii wore off thofe terrible Ideas •, 1 could laugh at Re- hgion as a Maukin of Clouts fit to fcare Children and Old Women j Gentlemen of Tafte, I perceived, could fee thro' the Cheat, and would not fuifer themfdves to be preach' d out of their Reafon. 1 can't zoA- The SCO URG E. Num. 3 2; I caii't deny, but I go to Church fometimes ftill 5 1 pop my Head within the Door, and if I meet with a gentle Reader ^ I convey my felf into a Back'Pew^ and take a Nap with all the Comfort and Convenience in the World > but when Ser- mon begins, I am generally rous'd^ and forced to fcour off, unlefs I have a mind to flay, and have a httle Funn by fretting the old Women in the Middle IJle. I mull needs fay, the fweeteft Place for compoling one's felf after Dinner, is among the fakers at -xfilent Meetings but thofe Pre [by- ierians are the noifiefi Dogs under the Sun, there is fuch a bawling and crying^ and thumping and fiamping^ that one might as well deep in a Paper- Mill. We Atheifts^ Sir, live the eafieft, merrieft, hap- pieft Life in the World > if there he no God^ I am certainly fafe > let me indulge and riot in the foft- cll; Pleafures, Death will come fooner or later, and makes an End of me at once : If thei»e fhould be one^ I -^m fafe then too, for I am taught, that Salvation does not depend upon my being of any particular Religion^ but upon the Sincerity of my Condu6i 5 and I can venture to profefs, that tho' miflaken, I am 2& fincere an Atheifi^ as any in the Kingdom. We have nothing to do with your Controverfies^ but to laugh at them ; indeed, we take it for a Rule always to Fote againft the Churchy and reafon good, for they are always ex- pofing and hampering us in the Commons j but the Difl enters receive us with openv^r;;^^, we are wel- come to them at all times, we lye fnug there among Proteftants^ they hate Perfecution^ and plead for a full and univerfal Liberty. We are Men of Ho- noitr 'y there's no appealing to Heaven^ no protefiing^ no calling upon God the righteous Judge^ among us j no, our Words are faci'cd : Let Chrifians^ let Priep Num. 3 2; r/6^ S C O U RG E. 20 ^ Priefts lye and fcoki, and make Profelytes to o«r glorious Caufe y they befriend us heartily^ we thrive upon it : Religion is /j^ri', (iiys one j no, but it is here^ fays another, and a third gi\TS the Lye TO both I We'll laugh at you eternally, and 'till you can agree among your felvcs, not a Prieji in England fhall ride^ Yours, Ens Rationis. Button's^ Sunday Sept. r .' You Scourgcr ! YOU won't leave off then 'till you are han^d! By G — ^, if I could find you out, I'd foon rpoil your Satyr -y You Scoundrel^ You fet up for a fFit ? You were ne'er at Button's in your Life. You have heard of one Parfon Paul^ take warn- ing, that Dog made a glorious Figure > I was drunk all that Day, the moll decent Execution one of them, as ever Mortal faw *, there was Benefit of the Clergy^ there was High Church for You. Well, I fhall hve to be reveng'd of all the Chimney Svjeep^ ers in England^ and only for Charles Lamb^ I do love that dear Fellow^ I did not care if they were all hang'd and damned. A parcel of Logger-heads^ empty pragmatical Fellows -y fneering Curs^ nothing of the Sublime about them ! Time was, I made a Bow^ and gave the PFall forfooth, to the Do£iory but, God forgive me^ it was my ignorance, Ilcnew no better j Lord, what could you expe6l from a Boy juft come from his Grand-mother ? but now I fee my Folly, This Town improves a young Fel- low wonderfully, I am more of the Gentleman^ I can fhouldcr Divinity now, in the Kennel with them, curfe them genteely^ and cane the fturdy Priefi devoutly. PRINCE 206 77^(? SCOURGE. NuM.32. PRINCE EUGENE has beat the T/^r^^j, he has. You T'mj I^og! The Son of a fi^hore oFa Fizier got off with the Chefi^ but who can help that ? I am a Prefiyterian^ and what then. Sirrah I Fll itand to't. \V1k) the Devil cut You out' for a Writer ? You Papifij ptiful Rafcal ! I have drank Damna- tion to You forty Times j I ihould be glad to fee You in Heil^ and You Ihall never know my Name 'till then. Monday Num.33. 7>&^ scourge, 207 Monday September 16. 17 17. 2> are Curfcd with a Ciirfe, for ye have rob- bed ;^^, even this whole Nation, il//^^;. iii. 9. H E Canters^ TVhiners^ and Snufflers of the c^/J Puritanical Confort in Forty- One^ among other Entertainments in- Rccitati-'jo^ did very often tune their Ncfes, aiid run Divi lions at their Opera^ Houfes^ upon the following Strains and Notes. PROUD J Lordly^ Popijb Prelacy! Aniichrift ! High-Places I The Man of ^//7 /" Babylon ! Tlie Beaft^ and its Rider !- The He-Whore in Scarlet I A Table-Servings Land-De-uouring^ Tyth-gathering Clergy ! Preachers for Loaves^ handfiils of Barley^ and bits of Bread! Priefls of Bell and the Dra- gon ! Fat^ flailed Deans and Prebendaries ! Lazy^ (winiflj Re^lors ! Tenths and Offerings^ the TFages of Sin^ the Portion of the Hirelings I Glebes^ Do- natives^ Temporalities^ the Pope's Inventory^ ' the Toys^ Trinkets and Riibbifl) of Rome'j PFare-houfe^ and the Devices and Abomination of Simon Magus. These were the Ravings of the Spirit, that were then let loofe among us j and thus the Vi- per vented its Foam the moment after it was hatched j and by this Charm of Words, the fpiri- tualiz'd 208 r;&^ SCOURGE. Num. n: tualiz'd Weaver^ the felf-denying Cohler^ and the World-renouncing T'inker^ whoic Call was pure and unniixt, without the leail Ingredient of Learn- ing, Study, or Common Scnfe, prevail'd againft the Angels of our Churchy and reduc'd the whole Body of the Clergy (the Ornaments of the Age and Glory of the Reformation) to the fime State of Poverty, Mifery, and Pcrfecution, which them- felves had made to be the only Mark of a 'True Churchy and the Standard Qualifications of an A^ poftoUcal and Gofpel Miniftry. Here the Farce be- gan to open, and the pious Juggle was made ma- nifeft : When they had difpoiTeired the Canaanite and the Hvvite ^ they fcrupled not to keep fall hold of thofe very Lands, upon which they had brought fo ill a Report. The Silva' and Gold Trinkets, which they had raiPd at, upon the Backs of the Egyptians^ they made no Bones of borrowing and keeping j and the Riches, Pomps, and Vanities they had renounc'd, nay, the Earth it felf became their own, their Right and Inhe-- ritance^ as having been promised to the Meek-y who could fubfilf no longer upon Typs and Sha-^ dows^ and the vifionary Profpe6t from Mount Pifgah. At the Refloration^ they loft all again: Only fome few kept pofleflion, by a feafonable Compli- ance j at what time Occafional Conformity was firll dubb'd a Virtue, and cnroU'd among the Du- ties of Prattical Chriftianity. But the old Stagers rcturn'd to their firil Cant^ and in defiance of Twelve 2'ears Experience, which had branded them for Hypocrites, let up once more for Eleemofynary Divinity^ and a Free-Trade in the Gofpel. They bellow'd as heartily againll Church-Revenues, as they parted with them unwiUingly, and xhe Bears contended, that the Oxe was to be muzzled. Reli- gion NUM.3.V T/^^ SCOURGE. i09 gion was rcprelentcd as a bad Bargain, that ought: to come cheap j and the Gofpl mult be fold, as the Boy fold his Topp, for nothing. When the Ladder was taken away, they had jufl the fame Stomach to fpiritual Honours, Titles and Income, as the Fox had to the Grapes j and the moil they could accept of, was a Dram of the Eottlc^ or a Sunday's Dinner. But the Times mending upon their Hands, and having by Degrees crept to the funny Side of the Hedge, they have now forgot their firll Works and Profeilion, and all thdcjelf- denying 'topicks are long fince bury'd in Silence and Oblivion. They now fwarm and nelHe in the richefi and moll populous Parts of the Kingdom, have purchas'd an Interell in the feveral trading Societies J and can influence an EMlion j they are making their x^pproac lies at Court ^ and know too well the Advantage of being us'd as the Tools of State-Policy^ and the Allies of a Party : This is a \varm Scalbn, and a rich Han^efl for them : No more Gofpcl then for God's- fa he -, not a Word more of Primitive Poverty and Self-denial. Their Stock rifes, and they can now comply with the Church in many indifferent 'Things^ which they once ex- ploded 'y they can follow the Mode of thofe Pomps and Vanities, which their Fore-fithcrs abhorr'd ; and *till they can again fucceed in feizing the Spoils of the Clergy^ they are content to drive a feparate T'rade-y and if they dare not yet over-turn the Church, they will at lead rival her, in her out- Ward Ornaments and Glory. A common Obferver may fee as many Prefby^ terian Parfons lolling in their Coaches^ as thcj-earc Eijloops in England \ whofe Anceilors would allow- no Miniller to be Apoftolical^ that did not propa- gate the Faith on Foot. Thus they carry witli them the unfenftify'd Infirmities of Eafe and Lu- P xury, ^lo r;&i? S C O U RG E. num. 5 h xuiy, to iome (lately and well-furnilh'd Country- Seat^ or Houfe of Pleafure^ fuch us a J^Felch Prelate would be glad to relide in > and forget the Stally the Sbop^ and travelling Pack^ of their meek and humble PredecelTors . As for their inferior Divines^ (however ftiPd Co-ordinate) we meet them ftrutting behind the double Chin of an Abbot y and lugging the PQpiJIj Paunch of a Cardinal before them. They appear Ruddy and Frefh-colour'd, a Com- plcdtion, that was once reckon'd the fure Mark of Reprobacy. Their Drefs is gay and fafhionable, and the Canonical Leather Jerkin^ and Orthodox Blue Apron^ have long fince been laid afide. In- flead of the picked Handkerchiefs they are content to take up with the modifh 'Turnover ^ or the clear- ftarch'd Band^ that was once look'd on as a Rag of the Whore of Babylon^ % Night-rail: Their old greafy flouching Hat, alamode de Roundhead^ is conveited to a ihming ^^<^i'^r, cock'd en Cavalier-^ and the fparkiih powder'd Bobb dangles behind, in the Room of the black Scull-Cap^ and Double- ^ulty that were formerly recommended as the only Limbeck and Receptacle for the In-dw el lings of the Spirit. Speak of, or enquire after them by their 'Titles j and you will no longer find them to be Hereticks in Heraldry, Gofpel- Leveller s^ and of the Number of thofe, who affecl not Greetings, Salutations, and the Titles of Mafter or Rabbi > for inilead of a Preacher of the JVord^ Minifter of the Gofpelj and the hke, fome of them can write themfelves, A. M. and D. D. with as much Pomp and Often- tation, as the moft Lordly Prelate ever allum'd. The Reverend^ and Reverend Sir^ are common Forms of Addrefs given and taken amongft them, who are the Defcendants of Stephen Nye^ and I^raife-God Barebones. One of them here in Eng- land Num.33. T'/?'^ scourge. 211 hnd did not ftick to affc6l the Name of BiJJjop ; ^nd another in Scotland was no Icfs pleas'd with the Name of Cardinal y and yet the Nenv Puritans have made them Saints in fpite of the Old Ones. They have their Schools^ their Academies^ and Mock- Uni'vcrftties^ in open Defiance of tlie Statute^ where they proceed and take Degrees upon a Principle of Parity and Co-ordination , where they do Excrcife in that, which was once call'd the Language of the Beaft'y and are trained to the (xmcPbilofophy^ that was foiliierly decm'd Pagan and Ileathenifi. Follow them to their Conventicles^ andinftead of a Barn or a Hovel, they'll carry you to a fine Edifice, richly fet off, and adorn'd with llately Pillars, painted Pevv^s, fretted Ceiling, Galleries handfomely lin'd, and beautify'd with Car\dng j a Pulpit well contriv'd, infbead of a Tub, withDefk and Sounding-board. Here they are attended by their Clerks^ with their proper FormaUties ; have their Bench of Elders^ their Door-holder s^ and 6'^;^- tons^ for the Prefervation of Decency and Order in all its Under-parts. Their Re^ors claim the Convenience'of a Le^urer^ and of a Curate^ Vicar ^ or Affijiayit^ where the People can afford it > not minding what their Fore-fathers us'd to fay of this fcandalous Order of Hirelings . W h en they mount, on goes the Cloak 5 whereas the Old Puritans us'd to Ib-ip upon thefe Occafions, and would often preach themfclves into their Shirt and Drawers. They can now keep to a Foj'??i of Prayer^ for a whole Hour together > and a Form, it muft be, tho' of their own makings whilft their Anccflors prefeiT'd Extempore Nonfenfe before it : /\nd they can preach by Note^ which was once calPd flint- ing the Spirit. PURE Gofpcl^ "mdi Soul- facing Truth ^ was all they heretofore contended for j but now they arc P ?. Miniftei^ 212 The SCOURGE. Num,3 3. Minillcrs of a State-Gofpel^ and divide the Hour- Glafs between Divinity and Politicks. I have a huge Bundle of their Preachments by me, which arc all fo many carnal Libels and Pamphlets > and yet if any one elfe meddles with the State, who io ready as they to complain of them as Bufy-Bo- dies, and Common Diilurbers. Their late Notions oi Monarchy^ Prerogative^ and Obedience^ are the greateft Novelties and Rarities in Nature. They can Canonize^ and have made more Saints than the Pope. Any Day in the Week is their Sunday^ as wxU as the Firft^ which was once held to be fo remarkably Sacred. State-Holidays^ formerly an Abomination, are now (according to their Date) in high Efleem with them j tho' upon this Occa- fion their Serynons and Addrejfes are all of a Piece : And the ^mker^ Independent^ Anahaptifts^ and o- ther Sedis (not forgetting the moderate or indiffe- rent Churchmen) whom their Fore-fathers never could endure, nor would on any Terms indulge^ are now on a fudden become their fpecial Friends and Confidents, their good xlUies and Confede- rates. As to their DifcipUne^ I appeal for that to thole who have felt it, and to their Books^ and Forms of Proceeding, where they are, or have been efla- bhfli'd. What is the Tyranny of a Bifiop's Courts to their PrefJ^yteries? An Apparitor^ to a Kirk- Treafurer? What are their 7/*^;^j, Stools of Repen- tance,^ Incarcerations and Forfeits^ without any Re- lief from a fecular Court, but Chips of the RomiJJj I'lak^ and Samples oi Purgatory and the Inquifition ? Hov/ pompous are their Ordinations^ which are a Call of fo many Divines, inflead of the Spirit ? How folemn are their plfitations from Country to Country ? And how tender are they of the Sin of Schifm^ which was once call'd Likrty of Con- fcienccy Num.3 3. T/je SCOUKGV.. . 215 fcicncc'y v/^hen they will notluffcr a Communicant to be a Sennon-Jmnter^ or to go from one Pref- byterian Parfon to another, without Letters Di- 7ntjfory^ under pain of Damnation ? Their Licome is not Hinted, nor are their Re- venues, as formerly, precarious. They will not fettle any where, nor open a Conientide^ but up- on good'Security of being paid for it, and with as fiir a Profpe^t:, as a Man opens a Shop. They havcitheir conjiant Salary^ and their ^r Monday Sepumber 2.5. 1717. 'Behold whom r^ JVorJhip ! Hift. ofBcll and the Dragon, ver. -ij. To the Author of the Scourge. Sir, Oxon. Sept. 16. ^ H E true Value I have for you and your Abilities, and my hearty Affection to the glorious Caufe you are aflerting, make me beheve that what I have fent you, will by this means be introduc'd to the World. I {hall offer no more of Apology for the prefent Trouble, but directly confefs my Sui-prife, that among all our Publick Challenges^ the Proteflant Lord of Bangor is not yet call'd upon to difchargc bis Promife^ and to oblige us with his Manual of Private Devotion^ colle6bed for the Ufe of his own Clofct, and which out of his Comprehenfive Cha^ rity^ he has engag'd to publifh for the univeifal Good of his Fellovj-Chriftians, I muft confefs, it is poilible, it is an eafy Mat- terfor his Lordfhip, who^ by the good Providence of Gody lives at Eafe in bis Pojj^jfions^ enjoys in Peace P 4 and ai5 r/6(? SCOURGE. Num.34- and ^let all the Supports of good Preferment^ and flour ijloes in the Sun-Jhine of this IForld^ to be very cold in Affairs of fo mean Importance •, but I beg Ipave to acquaint his Lordfhip, thatthis will afford but fmall Satisfa6t:ion to the fondell'of his Admirers, who, I am informed, have perfeclly intermitted the Formality of Prayings the whole Sumw.er Seafon^ for fear of being over-heated and thrown into a Fever 5 but now, the Dog-days being over, prefumc the Weather may be fufficiently ^^0/, and therefore imagine, they have a Right to infill upon his Lord- fhip's Word, if it be only, as he is a Perfon of Sincerity J a Man of Honour^ and a Gentleman. But Avhatever may be the Occalion of his Lord- fiiip's Delay in this Cafe, it fecms abfolutely necef- fary to me, that the Chriftian Laity fhould be in- ilru&d, and therefore to fupply the Defect, I have drav/n up a few Rules and Difpofttions as cxa6l as poffible to his Lordiliip's Scheme^ and which I re- commend under the Name of a DireUory. My Undertaking I concive to be no way impertinent, becaufe there is at prefent a lamentable Scarcity of Books of Devotion^ there not being, upon a mode- rate Computation, above two Thouiand five Hun- dred feveral Editions already extant upon that Sub- jea. You obfcrve. Sir, I have intimated, that the Summer Solfnce fhould be AvhoUy exempt from the Drudgery of Prayer ^^ and my Reafon is, be- caufe the unavoidable Svoeating of the Body is of it felf a Fatigue, which mull be fatal and unfuppoit- able, if the Spirits happen to be likewife inflamed. This appears to me to be the Caufe of his Lord- fhip's profeHing himfelf fo violently againfb Heat and Flayne\ for I abhor the Thoughts of that vul- gar Scandal among the Colliers^ as if his Enmity to fervent Prayer, had a View of lelTcning the De- mand Num. 34. The SCOURGE. 217 mimd of Coals^ and to prevent the building of the New Churches, to whofe Gvod^ nil the World knows, his Lordlhip is x^o'^facrecUy uttach'd : Had there been any thing of tliis Nature in Profpect, his LordlTiip might have fiidnomorebut, Go^ get you to your Prayers^ and catch your [elves Heat. The Winter then you perceive is the moll: pro- per Scafon for Devotion, and therefore from a Prin- ciple of Humanity, I muft let my Countiy-men into the Secret, That if they have the Happinefs of dreaming quietly^ they may be allow'd to lie o' Bed in the Morning, and jay their Prayers in their Jleep', for indeed this comes nighefl tlie Stan- dard, and at that time you will be apt to be n^oll Calm and Undifturb'dy but if Nature has notblefs- ed you with that Faculty, up you muil get, flip on youY Night' Gown ^ and begin, but not in a Zw- ry^ as it were fhus. j1 Form to he faid oier a Dilli of Tea, or playing ivith ci' Lap-Dog. Be in a good Humour, /^^ Give me Grace^ it is V^ Grace I want 5 Grant Hang your Head care- mc a City Houfe and a lejly on one Side. Country Houfc : May I al- Vv^ays live Abfolutely and Rub one Eye > Properly^ in fuch a Mafiner^ and to fuch a Degree : May 'I^hen the other, iny Lot fall in the Southern- Idwn. ly Parts of Great-Britain^ where the Air is moderate ^ and may I never be forced (God blefs his Royal High- Stretch, nefs) into the Principality - of North Wales. I confcfs I am ai8 neSCOUKGE, Num. 34. Call for your Shoes and I am unw orthy of thefe Blei^ fings, and fo I have always been : Let me always cTcape my Deferts^ and give me what I do not deferve^ for the fake of my felf, my Wife and Children, A?ncn. For the Church of England, to be [aid in a Coffee- Room. the 7'ea-Kettle. Tye your Garters. Loll over the Back of a Chair. Iturn your H^igg on one fide. Call for a Dram^ and 'Tobacco.^ and the Flying Pof!:. "Till your Pipe. Brufio your Hat. Dra'w up the Glafs. Set your Wigg. Sneeze^ if occafion^ and fpit., hut not LET the Church of England flourifli, that is, all the different Me- thods of Religion in this Ifiand^y for as the Church of Chrift is the Kingdom of Chrift .y fo the Church of England is the Kingdom of England: May ihe afcribe all her Glory to a Parlia- mentary Right .^ niore than to her Purity and Inno- cence, either in Doclrine or Difciphne. I am an Occafional Member , and perhaps may be faved in her Bofom : But- for fear, I have Charity, I have Tendernefs for other Com- munions , which I believe as Pure as flic, becaufe they fland upon the fame Foot, and are eftablijFd by Law. I w;ill Unchurch none, they are all within the Pale, fa\'C Num.34. 7!^^ SCOURGE. "ujitb Fehemcnce. Sit d(rjjn Calmly, call for a Candle and light your Pipe, Have a care of fal- ling upon your Knees. Call for your Night- cap and Slippers, Undrefs. See the Fire he fafe. Put out the Candle, Doze, Nodd, 21 P f.ive them all, comprehend them all : Reform the Li- turgy, and inftead of a Superllition to Creeds, Ar- ticles and Canons, erc6b Sincerity and Morality ^Qhn- ftian Virtues ! Confound the Pope, convert the Turk, pull down Dagon^ and fet up thy fclf In- dulge thou Occafional Con- formity ^ Difpenfe with the Schifm Ad;^ blefs the Aca- demies^ look fharply to the Convocation,^ and all for the Hike oi—Amen. For the Bifhops , to he faid going to Bed, ahout Mid- night. I Pray not for the Prelates^ but for the Bifiops,, the Superintendents,^ the Over- feers of the Flock, and in them for the Prefhyters and the Prefbyterians too. Give them Money to make" them Hofpi table to poor convert-^ cd Simiers : Give them Grace not to Lord it o- ver the Prefhyters their .£- quals : Give them Humility, that they may remember the Poor, the Meek, the Defpifed Filhermen and Tei)t-Makei*S5 from whom thcv zzo The SCOURGE. Num. 34. they pretend to defcend > and that they may ftand I more upon Moderation and Charity^ than upon a long- winded PFelJJj Pedigree of iminterrupted Succejjion from Clofe your Eyes, LordAhnighty knows who 5 Make all thy People Priefts and Prophets, that our Young Men may fee Vifi- , Good Night, ons , and our Old Men dream Dreams, Amen. Grace Before Meat. Sit down. f^ I V E us Strength to Clap on your Hat^ and vJ cat that which is be- your Hands into your fore' us j but when thou Pockets. givefl: us no Meat^ we pray Thee give us no Stomachs^ . Amen. Grace After Meat. Pick your Teeth. T" Have eat heartily , I Drop ajleep. JL ^^^ it agrees with me. Amen. This is a Specimen of Devotion , which ho w ludicrous foever it appears, I am confident comes up to the Pattern, and is (pardon the Expreilion) to the Life. Ms Lordfhip tells us, that Prayer is an Addrefs calm and undiflurh'd.^ without any Heat,^ or Flame.^ or Vehemence , or Importunity 5 obferve my Directory .^ and there you find the Sup- plicant Eafy.^ ^fiet and Compofed.^ in no manner of Tranfport or Rapture.^ free from Sorrow.^ Shame^ or Contrition^ under no Fervour or Agitation^ but feying his Prayers without Head or Tail,, fedately^ fereneiyy NuxM.34. neSCOJJKGi: 22? ferenely^ and unconcernedly : His Paflions, you fee, are afleep, his Soul is dormant, and his Rcaibn bccahii'd j and whatfocvcr Dilguife his Lordlhip may put upon it ^ I am almolt alTur'd he mult make ufc of fome of my Prefcriptions, it being as impoilible, but by fuch Means to dcfcribe the Temper and Difpoiition of the Mind, as it is for a Limner to exprefs in Colours the Pifture of the Soul. Upon the whole, I defire I might have leave to explain my felf upon one Point, and to profefs that this Form before you is not eftabliJJjed by Acb of Parliament^ which perhaps might have been an Objc6tioni and tha-efore there is no manner of Deiign upon Chriftian Liberty^ but it may be ufed or omitted as a 'Thing indifferent. And now. Sir, I take this opportunity to re* turn my Thanks for the agreeable Entertainment you conftantly give the better Part of our Uni-ver- fityj I confefs your Enterprize is hazardous and bold, but we obferve with Pleafure, the Chriftian Fortitude that bears you thro' all Difficulties , and that jull regard to Truth , that fets you out of the reach of Danger. I aiTure you, you have made fome Converts here, and you have very much con- firm'd. Tour moft humble Servant^, Monday 2ii r/^^SCOURGE. NuM.35; Monday September 30. 171 7. Every '&Q2k loveth hisUikz. Ecclus.xiii. 6. f^S^^I Never caft my Eye upon a Mountebank =.^^.^^=^v. .^^^ Smith fields but immediately fancy my felf in Eafi-Cheap at an Evening LeElure-y for the Empirick^ and the §uack Divine^ feem to me fo nearly related, that the miftake is veiy pardonable, and one cannot without Difficulty make any remark- able Diftinction between them : The Embroider'' d Bully upon the Stage you obferve amufing the Gaping Croud with Folly, Nonfenfe, and Noife, bawling till he is Black in the Face , and forcing his Lungs upon the Stretch to applaud his Art, and recommend his Medicines 3 he offers you a Cure for all Diftempers from the Foot to the Crown : Mis Balfamick Flaiftery his Box of Pills ^ his ne- *ver failing Cordial are it^allible : The Prefbyteri- an Gofpel Monger harangues you in the very fame Cant'^ He has his Crums of Comfort^ his Salve for the Soiil^ his Clean fer and Strengthner^ his Balm of G Heady to draw the Fire out of a feared Con- fcience, and profanely attempts to fet you a Bro- ken Spirit as dextroufly as the other Jets broken Bones-, Num. 3 5 . The SCOVKGE. 2 li Bones y the one whips you out a "Tooth m an in- Ihmt, without giving any Pain^ the other mfen- fihly ileals all the \Teeth out of your Head : The Phyfician has his Rope Dancers and merry Andrews^ to wind the multitude about him, he produces his Credentials from the moft eminent Cities and Cor- porations in England^ tells you of his Efbatc at Doncafter ^ that no worldly Views engage him to appear upon a Stage , but a Principle of Charity and Humanity^ and a Concern for the good of Man- kind j it is for the Benefit of the Poor^ who are unable to bear the Chai'ge of expenfi^e Remedies, and therefore he, out ot 7nere Pity^ as he is a Man himfelf^ and cait in the fime Mould with the mcaneil: Wretch, as he muil die in a little Time, and then will be incapable of allifting his fickly languifhing Fellow Chriftiansj for thefe Reafons, and, as he hopes to he faved^ for no other, he ex- Eofes his Perfon in a Puhlick Manner^ and is wil- ng to fuffer the Reflexions of the Great and Rich^ fo that he acquits himfelf in preferving the Lives and Limbs of the Poor, the Miferable and Diftreffed. The Doff or of the Conventicle makes ufe of the fame Arts, to poyfon the Soul^ as thefe abandon'd Fello^jus apply to ruin the Body 3 He mounts his Stage with equal Lmpudence ^ and inilead of Fid- iers and Pickled Herrings^ he turns you up the Whites of his Eyes, Sobs^ Sighs and Laments^ and throws his Snivel heartily about him , which are wonderful Charms to draw Cujlom , and ^x the Attention of his Hearers ^ when he has a fuUHotifcy out comes a parcel of old cancell'd Deeds , which he tells his Learned Audience are his Tcftimonials fign'd by the Univerlity of Aberdeen in Scotland^ yes! in Scotland! where, tho' he fays it, his Pa- mily live handfomely in Reputation, and fi'om whence, 224 The SCOUKGE. Num. ss ^ whence, it is well known, he had no occafion to remove for a Maintenance 5 but would you have him fight againft God? He had a Call^ and a loud Call^ to come into England^ im eked England ! to fave Milhons of finful periihing Souls, and pre- fei-ve a Nation from Ruin-^ and therefore, M^oe he unto him if he p'each not the Gofpel : This melts the tender-hearted Aflembly into Tears > j^Ias ! poor Man, to come fo far for our Sakes^ to lea-ve his Family and Relations^ and fling himfelf upon Providence^ to travel fo rnany hundred Aiiles d* Foot ^ with a heavy Pack upon his Shoulders, and all for to fave us vile Duft and Af.)es j it would make a, Heart of Flint relent^ let us have fome Fity^ let us enlarge our Bowels^ and endeavour to reward his Godly Labours > and then, hke the toffing of Hand- kerchiefs upon the Stage^ the old White Rags -and Sheep-fldn Purfes are lugg'd out, and not a Bajket- woman but claps a Piece into her Glove^ to convey it readily into the Pto^, for the Benefit of the/i?6^r Lecturer. But not to purfue this Comparifon any farther, give me leave to fiin^eyour Fanatic k Pulpiteer^ and mew you a Profpcct of him in a more open Light ; I fhall exciife my fclf the Trouble at this Time, andprefent his Charader as it was drawn by a very able Fland many Years ago j the Worthy Gentleman did me the Honour to communicate his Manufcript^ and I engag'd to give it a Place among the Animach vcrfions of this Day. ' Shev/ me, fays he^ fuch a Pifture of Judas^ * as the Canting Prejlyterian^ a Griping, Falfe, ' Reforming Brother, who curfes the Arm that ' feeds him, and repines at the /;^y?f of Oyl, fpcnt ' upon the Anointing of his Sovereign -, a pitiful ^ Levitc made up of Atovis^ whofe Parts are im-' ' perceptible 5 Num. 35. The SCOURGE. 225 perceptible > a Poftern Teacher, that has the \'il- lany to intoxicate whole Kingdoms, as a Man fometimes grows drunk by a Glijlcr ! ' The belt AVay to hold him is (as King Ri- chard bound the King of Cyprus) in Si her Chains, He loves to difcouifc of the New Jerujalem^ be- caufe her Streets are of fine Gold^ and yet c(uild like London as well, were Cheapfde pav'd with the Philofopher's Stone j nay, he would fay his Prayers with Beads^ if he had a Sett made all V7\x.\\ Diamonds : This, This it is, which tempts him to inveigh fo bitterly againil the Loyal Cler- gy^ whom he drefTes as he would make them ap- pear, jull as the Ballad of Do^or Faufiiis intro- duces the De'vil in a Fryar's M^eed : The Mor- tification of thefe Gentlemen mufb certainly be the greater, by being harrafs'd by fuch dull Inftm- ments, as the Prophet i/^/^Z? w^sfawn to Pieces with a wooden Saw. ' The Prefbyterian can drink the Tears of the JL^idow^ tho' the Husband be alive, and if the Doctrine of Paracelfus were true, that to eat Creatures alivc^ would perpetuate the Life of Man, this Cannibal would be immortal, for he fw allows quick Men, Wives and Children, and devours Li'ves^ as well as Livings^ as if he were born in that Pagan Pro'vince^ where none wxre allowed to marry till he hadkiirdtwehe Chriftians. ' It would have furpriz'd you to have feen thefe blinking Vifitors Reforming our Univerfties^ where they left the Scholars fo poor, that they had fcarce Rags to make Paper : One would have thought that the Parliament had defign'd to tranfport the Univerfities, when they loaded JJfes with the Revenues of Colleges. Their Di'vinity Difpiitations were always with JVo77ien and Shop^ keepers-, the only Subied they went upon was CL ' ^ the 225 r/6^ SCOURGE. NuM.35. the ^leftion of Epifcopacy j and the only Argu- ment againft it was^ that there were Sc7ibes and Pharifees^ Priefis and Elders before the Jpo^ files. * The Drefs of this Divine you mull: obfei*ve, was in thofe Days wonderfully Curt and Precife^ and his fhorteil Things were his Hair and his Cloak 5 his Hair is cut to the Figure of j . Two high Cliffs run up his T'emples^ whofe Cap of fi)orn Hair fhoots down his Forehead, with Creeks indented^ where his Ears ride at Anchor: Had this falfe Prophet been carried with Habukuk^ the Angel had caught him faft hold of his Ears^ and led him as he leads his Auditory. He has two Mouths, his Nofc is one, for he fpeaks thro' both : His Doublet and Hofe were of dark Blue^ but of late he is in Blacky Unce the Loyal Clergy were perfecuted into Colours : His two longell Things are his Nails and his Prayer^ but the cleanefl Thing about him is his Pulpit CufioioUy for he is always beating the Duft out of it. ' If his Pulpit be large, he walks his Round, and fpeaks, as from a Garifon : When he firll enters his Prayer^ he JVinks and Gafps^ and Gafps and Winks^ as if he prepared to preach in ano- ther World : He fecms in a Slumber^ then in a ' Dream^ then Rumbles a while, at laft he founds forth, and throws fuch Z);r/ and AV//^;^y^ toward Heaven, as he durfl not offer to a Mcniber of Par^ liament. His whole Prayer is fuch an irrational Bleating^ that without a Metaphor^ it. is the CaVoes of his Lips 5 and commonly you have it larded with fine neijo Words, as Savingable^ Muchly^ Chrift-Jefufnefs^ and yet he has the Face to preach againft Prayer . in an unknoicn Tongue. Sometimes he is founder' d^ and then there is fuch hideous Coughing ! But that's \exy ' fcldom. Num. 35- Th SCOVKG'^: 227 ' fcldom, for he can glibly run over Nonfenfe^ as * an empty Qirt trundles down a Hill> but if he ' chance to tire, hcrefreflicshimfelf with th^iPeo- ' pies Humm^ as ^Collar o£ BeJls chcarup aPack-^ ' bor/e. ' He tears the Litur^y^ becaufc, forfooth, it ' JJjakks the Spirit ; and if He fees the Book of ' Common-Prayer, the Fire fees it next, as fure ' as the BiJJjops were bum'd who compiled itj ' yet he has Mercy upon Hopkins and Sternhold^ ' becaufe their Meters are fung without Authority^ ' and, like himfelf, firft crept into private Houfes, ' and then into Churches. ' His Prayer ended, he then looks round to ' obfeiTe the Sex of his Congregation, and ac- ' cordingly turns the Apoftle's Men^ Brethren and ' Fathers^ into dear Brethren and Sifters^ for his ' ufual Auditoiy is moil part Female^ and as many ' Sifters flock to him, as at Paris upon St. Mar-^ ' garefs Day, when all come to Church that hopd ' to be with Child that Year j He divides the Text ' as he did the Kingdom^ and makes one Part fight ' againil the other, or as Burgefs divided the Dean ' of PanV% Houfe, not into Parts^ but 'Tenements^ ' that is, fo as it would yield moft Money ^ and thu^ ' his Text is rather Z^/ ^//^ than jDmV^^j HisSer-* * mon and Prayer grin at each other, and let his ' Doctrine and Reafon be what they will, his Ufe ' is ftill the fame to augment his LeElure. ' He has a rare ftmpering Way of ExpreffioHj ' and hates a perfonal Conference^ unlefs with a ' Sifter. He calls a many'd Couple, Saints that ' enjoy the Myftery^ and a Man drunk, is a Bro^ * thcr full of the Creature 'y ytt^tH^eddhia^ Sermons * he is veiy. familiar, and like that Picture at the * Church of Leydcn^ fhews jldam and Eve with- ' out Fig-leaves j at a Funeral he giyes infallible CL^ Signs 22S r^^ scourge; NuM.35. Signs that the Party is gone to Heaven^ but his chief Mark of a Child of God^ is to he good to God's Minifters^ and from hence it is that he calls his Preaching Manna^ fitted not to the Necejfi^ ty^ but to the Palate of his Hearers. ' But of all Mortals, I admire the Short-hand Men^ who have the Patience to write from his Mouth ; had they the Art to JJjorten it into Senfe^ they might write his 'u^hole Sermon upon the Back of their Nail: He preaches indeed both in Sea- fon and out of Seafon^ for he rails at Popery^ when the Land is almoil loft in Prefbytery^ and would cry out Fire^ Fire^ in Noah's Flood. It is plea- fafit to obfers^e how finely thefe Fellows plaid into each others Hands: Marfljall procured Thanks to be given to Sedgwick^ for his great Pains, and Sedgwick obtained as much for Mar- jhall^ and fo they all Pimp one for another. ' These Seducers muft needs fmilc, and laugh in their Sleeve when they meet over a Bottle 5 for the dulleft amongft them muft know, that they are no more than Cheats and Shop-lifters in Re- ligion^ fuch grofs low Impofiors^ that the People die the Death of the Emperor Claudius^ poifon'd by Mufhrooms. The old Hereticks were illujiri- ous Cheats, and had Skill and Learnings but thefe arc JVretches^ whofe very Brains are ftuffcd with Chaff '^ they read little, and preach much, are always weeding of Authors, picking up re- fufe Notes, and retire in their Study to catch Flies. ' The Prefbyterian has fuck'd Blood ever fince he lay in the Butchers Sheets^ and now has a Shamble in his Countenance, fo crimfon and tor- rid^ that you may read there how St. Lawrence died, and think the three Children were delivered from his Face : His Solemn League and Covenant was his God, by which he ftrove to damn or ' beggar Num. 3 (5. The SCOU RG E. 229 ' beggar the whole Kii-igdom, out-doing the De- ' zi/^ who only perfuades^ but he forc'd us cither ' to Perjury or Starving. Monday OUoher 7. 171 7. Fear God, Honour the Kin^. i Pet. ii. 1 7, T gives mc fomc Pleafurc, I confefs, to oblciTe, how impatiently the Dijfenting Brotherhood behave themlclves under the Corre^ion of my S C O U RG E S. Every LaJJj cuts deeply,lays the Wound open to the Aiv^ and leaves fuch fenfibk Imprcflions behind, that the moft fan5iify\l Artiil will never be able to take off the Scars. Their Refentments, I perceive, run high j they rage like a wild Bull in a Net^ and the Revenge they can never hope for by the Power of Argu- ment, they refolve to fatiate with the mo^ barba- rous Outrages 5 and facrifice their ador'd Maxims o^ Charity and Forbearance^ to a Spirit ot Per/ecu- tion^ and more than Roman Cruelty, But alas ! this we always find to be the Refuge of an abandon' dC\\\x(c\ K FiUain ih'M is befet^(oon grows defperate^ and when he is beaten from his Retreats., and the Fizard forc'd from him, Dif- traclion gets the Afcendant of his Reafon^ and he fixes it as a ftandini? Principle to die hard, ° aj Let ^3a !ra^ SCOURGE. Num. 3^. Let me except but the two Words, Sedition and Rebellion out of the Engliflj Language, the poor Drudges of the Party muit at once be lilent, and I defy the utmoft Efforts of Fanatick Malice^ to raife the leall Blcmifh upon this unanpocerahle Undertaking'.^ but in thefe their Strength lies, this is the Artillery they play againft me \ exaftly tran- fcribing the Example of the old Incendiaries^ who branded the belt of Subjects with the fatne Charac- ters, and thought no Man could be a Rebels but the brave Cavalier^ who ventured Life and Fortune in the Defence of his Prince : For my own Part, I claim it as a peculiar Difl:in6i:ion of this Paper, to infpire my Country-men with Religion and Loy- alty J and whoever are pleafed to profefs themfelves Tny Admirers, I humbly charge it upon them, to exprefs their Efteem for the Ellabliihment of the Churchy by a conflant Allegiance, and an unihaken Fidelity to the Crown r, othenvife, I affure them they are very much ?mftaken in the Defign of this EJfay : But whatever Senfe the World may im- pofe upon my Writings, I am perf e6tly eafy in my own Breaft, and have the Satisfaftion within my felf to lay out my Abilities in fuch a Manner, as, I prefume, will be as great a Support to the Throne^ as the mo ft powerful Army, and may be as firm a Security to the Per/on of my Sovereign^ as his Body^ 'Guards. The common Way of pronouncing upon the Goodnefs of a Caufe, is by the Figure and Reputa- tion of thofe Perfons who undertake in its Defence ; and if this Obfei*vation be juft, never was there a Party of Mankind fo wretchedly infamous as the Schifmaticks of Great-Britain^ who retain the moffc fcandalous Advocates, and, to the immortal Re- nown of the Conventicle^ are glad to be protected by the projlituted Pens of Libertines and Atheifls : Mucb Num.36. T'/^^ SCOURGJE. 231 Much wiicr in their Generation were the old P«- ritans^i who cover'd over their 7'reacheries with the Face of Learnings and always employed fuch as were great Mailers in the Art of being Religious 5 but their Pollerity of the prefent Age, rejoyceand plume themfelvcs under the Shadow of Pagans^ and carefs the debauch'd Principles of an Infidel^ fo long as he has any Poyfon in his Gums^ and taints, w^th his />//'^ and to guard Num. 3 6. TPje S C O U RG E. 233 guard me from any Violence and Indecency of Ex- preflion, I place before my Eyes a Sentence of the facred Writings^ to awe me into a re\'ercntial Re- gard to T'rutb^ and to repel the Temptation of /^«- chriftian Satyr^ which would have rcfledled upon the Jullice of my Caiife^ and perhaps might flow from the Pen when it moves upon Principle^ imd one has nothing in View but the Satisfaction of Confcience^ and the univei*{Iil Benefit of ones Coun^ try : But how different is the Condu61: of thofe pro- fligate Wretches, who fin for Bread in the Service of my Adverfaries ? whofe Fortunes, grown defpe- rate by Extravagance^ and whole Prmciplcs, cor- rupted by Debaucheries^ engage them to rake in the very Sink of Scandal and Profmenefs, and pre- vail with them 'wantonly to chequer their piiblick Libels with the Text of Scripture^ among Talfe N'c-zvSy New-Market Hoyfie-Races^ Mug-houfe Rlots^ and fecret Remedies for the gentle Diftempcrs, 1 aflure the Difjenters^ that it is much beneath my Temper^ and my Education likewifc, to make ufe of ungenerous Arts to fet off any Controverfy I fhall engage in : But I am forc'd to complain that I have receiv'd Pro'vocation^ that will jullify me in taking all Advantages •, and I am afraid, the Im- portunity of my Friends will at laft prevail with mc to dcfcend into the private Lives, and the re- tired Deportment of the Faction : I would very wiUingly be excused fo ungrateful a Tafk 5 I am tender of the perfonal Reputation of my greatell Enemies , but who can be undifturb'd^ when thofe Slaves of the Prefs are encourag'd to impofe Li- bels upon the Publick, and to convey, with un- exampled Impunity the moll infamous Characters of the be ft Men ? When the Domeftick Concerns of Families are expos'd in the falfefl Colours, and the giddy Tranfactions o?fek^ Fejiries ai'c bafely rc- prcfented, S54 TZ^^S COUR.GE. NuM.3 ^ r^ ^ ^> .$. ^ ^ ^. r^:^ and there is fcarce any Paf- fion in the Soul of Man, but take it while it i> a-float^ and in the critical Height, and humour it with fome lucky br unlucky ?Ford^ ajid you may as certainly over-rule it to your own Purpofe, as a Spark of Fire falUng upon Gunpowder will in- fallibly blow it up. The common People are more particularly obferv*d to be imposed upon by this Artifice, and to be managed dextrouily by any Noife or Cry , that their Dri'vers fhall ufe to ring in their Ears : Make Choice only of two or three popular^ empty Words^ that chime full and rounds and you may whifile the Multitude backwards and forwards, upwards and downwards, 'till you arc weary, and then if you pleafe, get upon their Back^f flx)d ride. The 2 56 The SCOUKGE, Nuai. 3 7. The Church of England has been a deplorable Sufferer by this Cant and Impofture, and under the venomous Gihberip of a few paukiy Phrafes, has been once i-uin'd by a Clan of defigning Hypo- eriteSj who believ'd not one Tittle of what they faid, and laugh'd heartily within themfelves at thole who did y and this Church mull; inevitably fink again under the fame Ddufion^ if the Providence ©f Heaven, and the Prudence of Man, do not tiniC'- }y interpofe between her and the villainous Arts of fuch Incendiaries. The narrow Limits of my Paper oblige me to be as concife as poflible, and therefore I ihall direclly offer my ObteiTations up- on this Subjed : The firit H^ord I ihall introduce, tts being moil fcandaloufly perverted and irjifapply'd, is^ that Mailer-piece of Falfhood and Impudence, by which the Apollohcal Purity of the Church of England is traduc'd under the Name of PQPERT, a Word that founds High and Bul- lying in the iMouths of Mug-houfe Men^ and For-^ ters on a Fifth of November ^ but the moil bare- fac'd and fenfelefs Calumny that ever was infpir'd by the Father of Lies, or deliver'd by any of hi^ SoMy and I could wifh myfelf butasiecure of my own Salvation, as I am, that thofe Wretches ftand condemn'd in their own Confciences, while they are charging this upon us: A very hard Fate! The Fapifis would burn us for being Froteftants^ and the Fanaticks would cut our Throats for be- ing Fapifis ! The Church of Rome has more Po- licy than to curfe and dellroy the EngUfh Reform-- ersj if fhc undcrftood them iis her Friends : Fire and Faggot^ Racks and Gibbets^ are but llrange fort of Love-Tokens^ yet fuch the Inquifttions have always beftow'd upon the Members of our Church : The Authors and Compilers of our Liturgy and Book of Homilies paid down their Lives for thefc Books NiTM. 3 7. The S C O U RG E. 2 57 Books ac the Stake, and will the virulent imcon- Icionable Fanatkks charge and reproach thcfc Boolcs as Popifi^ when the Makers and Afierters of them were butchered by the Papifls for their being fo ? As the Schlfmatick Faction are very fond of di- ftinguilhing us by the Name of Papifts^ fo they are very torwaru in bellowing upon thcmfeh^s the Title of Proteftants^ which is another Word I take notice of as being infamoujly abus'd j but are thcfc Men, who have thus dubb'd themfclves Proteftants^ in good Earncll fuch mortal Enemies to Popery as they pretend themfelves to be? Pray hoAV came the old Puritans and Fanaticks to be fo impudent and troublefome to the Government, ar tlie very fiimctime when the Spanifi Armado^ which was full charg'd with Popery^ was hovering upon our Coafts ? How came they to be fo mde and confident, and make fuch extravagant Demands upon the Government, juft at the time when the Papifts were dellroying the whole Realm by Gtm-po-wder? If the Papifis and the Fanaticks are really fa oppolite one to the other, how came it to pais, that while they fate in Parlia?nent together, they conllantly voted upon the fame Sidc^ and were always confpiring to weaken and fubvert the Ella- blifhment of the Church ? If thefe two Parties are (o extremely contrary as they pretend to be, what is the reafon that they always 'viftt one another with peculiar Friendfhip and Intimacy, infomuch, that it is generdly obfer/'d in the Country, that none are fo gracious and fo fzveet upon one another, as the rankeft Papifts2sA the m.o^ noted Fanaticks? Of which I will not pretend to know the Reafon, tho' I doubt not but they do. I would gladly know what can be allcdg'd, why the Pafijis never write againll the Dijjmters^ un- Icfs 23B T^eSCOVKGl. Num.?/. ^s it be, that they are unwilling to difoWige their Friends ? And if Popery and Fanaticifm are fo irre- concileable, how come we by that extraordinary Difcovery, that thefe true Proteftants have made of late Years, that King Charles the Martyr was murder'' d by the Vz^i^s'^ If the Cafe were fo, the Dijfenters muft certainly be the Papifts^ for we all know who they were who cut off the King, and we are now at lail beholden to the Fadion for tell- ing us alfo what they were : However, it fecms, ma- ny were engag'd in this Murder under Mafks and Vizards^ befides the Executioner. And one thing more I cannot but obferve upon thefe Proteftants^ as what ought to be laid in their Difh. forever, 'viz. That if any Branch of the i^c*^- al Family did unhappily drink in any thing of the ' Popift) Contagion.^ thefe, who call themfelves true Proteftants^ are, of all Men breathing, the moft improper to revile, or fo much as to open theii* Mouths againft any fuch Perfon upon that Account j for they muil thank themfelves for it, who violent- ly pluck'd the Children out of the Bofom of the beft Father and the firmeft P rote ft ant in the World, and fent them into foreign Countries, to convcrfe with Snares and 'traps^ and to fuppoit their Lives with the Hazard of their Faith^ Ayi^g from fuch Proteftants for Safety and Shelter among the Pa-^ pifts. But had that blejfed Prince been fuffer'd to fpin out the Thread of his Life in Peace and Pro- fperity, not one had iiTu'd from his Royal Loins^ but what he would have inftrufted himfelf, and bred up to fuch a Knowledge of, and Adherence to the Church of England^ that it fhould not have been in the Power of all the Papifts and Jefuit$ under Heaven to have iliook them in their Reli- gion $• fo that the great Seducers were the villain" ous Fanaticksy who by baniihing the Royal Family^ call Num. 37. fhe SCOURGE. 25^' cafl them into the very Jaws of Popery^ and not only led them, but dro've them into Temptation, And now will thefe Fellows plunge Men over Head and Ears into a Ditch, and then knock out their Brains for having a Spot upon their Clothes ? Kindle a Flame round about them, and then with tragical Outcries, reproach them for being Jtnged ? The Equity, Reafon, and Humanity of a true Prutc ft ant Fanatick Zeal ! much according to the DeviPs Method, firll to draw Men into Sin, and then to damn and deftroy them for it ! Upon the whole, we are eternally bound to thank the Dijfenting FaBion^ for anv of the Royal Family that have been perverted into the Popip Faith j and fo I leave thefe Wretches to make good their Claim to this New diftinguifh- ing Title, and after this, to perfuade us, if they can, that they alone are the true Proteftants, Another Word which our Enemies have made ufe of to ruin our Church, is that canting Title of Reformation ; a Word (how plaufible foever in the^ Sound) that has rais'd fachaWar in the State, and caus'd fuch a Scli^fm in the Church, as no Age or Place can parallel. A Word, which has coft. this Kingdom above a hundred Thouland Lives, that has pull'd down the Sovereignty, levell'd the Nobility, deftroy'd the Hierarchy, filPd all things with Blood, Rapine and Confufion, and reformed the beft of Mon^u'chies into an Anarchy^ and the happieil; of Illands into an Aceldama •, and doubtlefs this muft be a blefled Seed, that can thrive in no Soil 'till plow'd up with War and Dcfolation, and water'd with the Blood of its Inhabitants. But to give you* a remarkable Inllance of the Religion of thefe Reformers,^ let me prevail upon you to take Notice of the following Stoiy 5 ' In the Courfe ' of the great Rebellion^ that infamous Wretch, ' Hugh Peters^ in a Conference with his Mailer Cromvjelly 240 ra^ S C O URG E. Num. 3 7. ' CromweJIy advis'd him not to dcfpair of his Pro- ' rpedts, but to purfue his Hopes with all imagina- * ble Application > and if the Soldiery were obili- * nate, and would not comply with his Command, * he told him the bell Way was, to proceed as he ^ began, and to Fox them a little more with Reli- ' gion^ and he need not queilion but he would cany ' his l?oint. A Fourth abus'd Word, by which the Faction is every Day pracbifing upon the Church, is mif- calling the Execution of the I^aws by the odious Name of Perfecution : Now fince the Ten Perfe- cutions by the Heathen Emperors in the firftAges of ChrilHanity, the Word Perfecution is become of a very infamous • and offenfive Chara6ter, and therefore without any more ado, our Fanaticks clap this vile Word, hke a Firefhip upon the Go- vernment and the Laws, and the Artihce has gone veiy far with the hrutiJJj Rahhle : The great Di- fturhers of the Church by this Sophillry pafling for Innocent^ and the Laws themfelves being made the only MalefaUors. But fetting afide Noife and Partiahty, I would fladly know, why fuch as fuffer capitally by the land of Jufticc at T^yhurn^ fhould not be as loud in their Clamours againfl: Perfecution as thefe Men ? If you fay, that thofe Perfons fuffer for Felony^ but thefe for their Confcience -, I anfwer, that there is as much Reafon for a Man to plead Confcience for the Breach of one Law, as for the Breach of another > and poflibly the Highway-Man will tell you, that be cannot in Confcience fuffer himfelf to Itai-ve, which he mufl necefHuily do, if he did not fet out and take a Purfe. But now if you look upon this as a very unfatisfaftory Reafon before a Judge, as no doubt but it is a very infolent and a very fenfe- Icfs one, I am furc upon the fame Grounds, all the Pleas Num.37. 27j^ scourge; z^t Pleiis and Apologies that our ScJjifmaticks can pof- libly offer, are every whit asfenfelefs and irrational. And now, when both Senfe and Experience, as broad as Day-light^ have fhewn us what the Party means hy Popery^ what by Proteftantifm^ what by Reformation and Perfecution 5 Is this a time of day for any who profefs and own themfelves of the Church of England to trim and prei^aricate with the Church, by new Schemes and Amendments, in Fa- vour of a reftkfs^ implacable Fa6lion^ that breaths nothing lefs than Death and Dejfru^ion ? A Fad,ion^ which nothing can win, nothing oblige, and will be fure to requite fuch a Favour once done them, by turning to the utter Reproach and Ruin of thofe who did it : To innovate or alter any thing of our Efiahlifhment^ is in plain Terms nothing elfe but to efiahlifl) a Schifm in the Church by Law^ and fo bring a Plague into the very Bowels of it, which is more thanfufficiently endartger'd already, by ha- ving one in its Neighbourhoods A Plague, which fhall eat in the very Heart and Soul, and Confumc the Vitals and Spirits of it > and this to fuch a De- gree, that in the Compafs of a few Years, it fhall Icarce liave any vifible Being or Subfiftencc, or fo much as the Face of a National Church to be known by. R Monday 24Z rhe S C O URG E. Num. 3 i. eC)OOC)©so©odooC)OooeooaoG>o •Monday O^ober 21. 1717. Fools Vi^ /^r ic^^;?^ ^f Wifdom. Prov. x. 21. AM oblig'd to the Good-will of my CoiTcfpondents for the Eafe they have 1 1 given me in the fumifhing out an En- ii tertainment for this Week: The Three Letters that follow, Iprefume, areZ/;?- exceptionahky and upon the Account of their Mo- defty, Learning and good Senfe, muft be read with a particular Pleafur^.,_ . , , To the Author of the Scourge. Sir, ' r I ^ HE Church of England^ in my Opinion, JL ' has receiv'd fufficient Security from the ' Throne, that Ihejs in no Danger^ but will be^ ' defended ^id prpteSSted as far as poliible, from all ' Attempts of pr/i?^^^ ox-'profefs"d Enemies > and ' believe me, this Ailuranccmufl be very comfort- ' able^ at a Time, .wh^i^e is perfecuted with the * utmoft Violence, by 'Tongues Jet on fire of HelJ^ ^ who throw out their Venom againil her, in an * Army daily recruited, of the molt -virulent Libels^ ^ that any Age ever faw, to render her the Con- ' tempt Num. 3 «'. The ^CO IT RG E. V4V ' tempt and A verfion of the whole Kingdom: An ' Exahiple, that has not a Precedent in any Age or ' Nation in tlie World, where a Churcw^ while ' fhe was efiabliJJj'd by the Laws of the La7i% was ' fo openly and furiou-ny attack'd ! ' But, tho' it mult be confefs'd, that the G/^^- * rantee of the Government be of very great Im- ' portance to make her fafe^ yet, I defire it to be ' allow'd, that it is no fmall Prejudice to her, to ' have the Hearts of the common People thus /^/'» ' from her^ and JJ:}e made the J eft and Proi;erb of ' the whole Realm : She is now vihfy'd and afpers'd ' w^ithout any Ceremony^ the Flag of Defiance is ' openly hung out, and Batteries above Ground are * rais'd againlt her j and if we believe what thefe ' Incendiaries boalt of themfelves, that their Scan- ' dal is well received by Men of the greateft Inte- ' reft and Senfe in the Nation, then the Poyfon ' has fpread farther -, and by the Multitude of thofe ' Libels that are difpos'd of, it is evident they ' have Encouragement y^;i^^w^^r^, and it is vifible ^ w hat Effects a continual Battery of Falfhood may ' have 3 where fo much Dirt is thrown fome muft ^ ftick. ' But the Danger of thefe Enemies among our * felves, looks much more terrible, when we con- ' fider that they act in concert v/ith, and directly ' fen^e the Purpofcs of the Pre/by terian Eftablifto^ * ment m Scotland y which is the fame Comer from ' whence the Hand-breadth o£ 2. Cloud once before ' came, which foon darkened the w^hole Heavens ' of thefe Three Kingdoms, and filPd them with ' unfpeakable Mifery and Blood -flied. ' The Epifcopal Church of Scotland was ruin'd ' by her Indolence^ and by her fecurely defpifing * the EflFoits of her Enemies : She knew fhe had 'a Prince upon the Throne, who was educated R 2. 'in 244 Tf^^ SCOURGE. Num. 5s. ' in her Communion, was a \q2ClWz\ Defender^ and * refolute Protedor of her Honour j but alas ! fhe * trufted too much to this^ and what was the ' IlTue ? By letting Things go too far^ and over- ' /tfd?/^/«^ the Malice of her Enemies, fhe found her ' fclf in a Moment undone, and the Affedions of * the People beguiled from her^ by the undermining * Libels that were fo induftrioujly difpers'd within, ' and beyond her Borders j and had the lamenta^ * ble Comfort to fee her King dye a Martyr for ' that Churchy when, by his ConceJJions to Rebels ^ and Tt'aytors^ he had put it out of his Power any ' longer to protefl: her. I am, Yours, r. G. Sir, < npHE Charge o£ Prieficraft upon the Cler- JL ^ ^ of England^ is fo veiy common in the * Mouths of Pr^yZ'j'/^n^;^; and Atheifls^ that a/a- ^ reigner would be apt to conclude, our Laity were ^ no more than Beajls of Burden^ and the Clergy a ' Parcel of Tyrants and Impojiors ^ but a Httle Ex- ' pcrience will fcrve to wipe off this Calumny^ and ' lay it at the Door of the Conventicle Preachers^ ' who are known to mle with the moft abfolute * Sway over the Confciences of their deluded Peo- * pic. As an Inllance of which, I beg you would ^ publlfh the following Bill^ that in the Times of ' the Ufurpat ion \v'.\s openly read in the Church of ' St. Martins in the Fields: Which perhaps the ' Reader may apply, by way of Anfwer, to the un- ' charitabh Rcflc6tions that were lately thrown up- ' on Num. 38. r>&^ S C O U RG E. 245 ' on thofc, whofc Religion influenc'd them to pray ' for the unfortunate Gentlemen under Sentence of ^ Dcatjj. ' These arc to dcfirc you to take into your ' Chrifiian Conftderation^ the Grief and Sorrow of ' one Miftrcfs Beal of Weflminflcr^ whofc Son, * Francis Beal^ a poor Worm^ and «o Af*^;?, is falPn ^ away /r^?;;; Grace ^ and fervcs the iT/;/^ in his Wars : ' Wherefore, flie moft humbly befecchcth the ' Prayers of this Congregation, that he may re- ^ ^ turn and be com-erted. Yours. Sir, ^ T H AVE here fent you the Art of Political X ' Preachings which, if your Scourge ihould ^ happen to fall fhort of its proper Dimenfions, ' may, without much Difficulty, be falkn'd to the * End of it. ' It is highly proper, that a Work of fo great ' Importance^ fhoujd not make its Appearance in ' the World, without the necejfary Ornament of ' a Preface^ which I have taken care to provide ' the gentle Reader with. But whether it bears ' any Relation to, or is in any wife fit to intro- ' duce the fubfequent Difcouife, I, for my own ' Part, fhall not pofitively affirm : But this every ' Body muft allow, that it is a Preface. The PREFACE. ^ Q ACRED and Profane Writings have this \3 * iri common, that they are both liable to. * have their Senfemifapplfd^ and fometimes invert- R } ' edj 246 ThS^COUKGE. NtJisf>3S. ' edy hy Perfons who. gii\e: themjehes up too much ' to Sophiiiry. }ri<;>mizx andVixgilha^'e not feldom ' appeared in a ^lotation^ ivith an Air and Ajpe^ ' quite different from what they carry in their own ^ .M'^rJtings. Nor have the Holy Scriptures, met ^ with better T^reatmeyit.\ for they have been handled ' .deceitfully /',y Time-femng A/(P;? 5 Men ixiho make ^'.tifi of the Scriptures to /peak their ow,ti;jSenfe^ ' through them. ^ 'tHE Clergy &^ SCO URGE. 249 Monday 05ioher 28. 1717. Can a Man take Fire into his Bofom, and his Cloaths not be burnt? Prov. vi. 27- HAT there has been from the Days of Queen Elizabeth^ a reillefs and im- placable Fa£lion^ who by the Artifice of the Jefuit^ has cndeavom*'d the Deftru6tion of the Church of England^ is a Truth too notorious to be denyM, and therefore has no ocDaiion to be much infilled upon> A Party fo indefatigable in Mifchicf, (b fharp and eager in the Purfuit of it, that no Dif- appointments can difcourage, no Laws oblige, no Puniihments rellrain > they follow their Game thro* all Difficulties, they puifu'd it quite thro' the Reign of Two Princes^ and brought it to PcrfecHon in the Third! A Stoiy in all its Circum {lances fo black and ghaflly, fo horrid and difmal, that no Age, no Place can parallel from the beginning of the World i 'tis an Original of Villany^ and will for evxr be inimitable by all Poflerity, except by themfelvcs ! And when we have heard with our Eai-s, have feen with our Eyes, have frefh in our Memory, fuch tragick and terrible Inflances a6led by this very Party > caiii we want Incitements to a,wakcn our $ufficion r:^SO r/&^ S G O U RG E. Num. 3 0: Sufpicion and Jcaioufy^ to make us always ready upon our Guard, to ann our felves with the ut- jtrioil Vigilance and Caution, that Prudence and the Submiffionof a Subjed can infpire? Is it not the Duty, the Interell, of all who profefs a Value terotif Eftatttjhment^ to exert the utmoft of their Power, Skill and Stratagem, to countermine their ^efpcrate Defigfis, and to preferve the Efiahlijh^ rnent ? An EjfabliJJmient that bears a mighty Figure in the Government, is ' /^y^/'^r^^^/)' blended with its. Conllitution,. the iwvaluable Concern of the State J of the Lnws^ and of iiW good Men! Look into the Party, rur\^ey the Tendency of their Prin- ciples, and fee if they are not advancing with the fame Spirit that fo fatally glow'd in the Bofoni of their Anceftors j and if you are pleas'd to draw the Comparifon^ you may find . in the prefent Age, a Paj'allel'for all the renown' d Heroes of Fa^ion that went before, and that the C/j^r^Z? of England {\:'Ands exactly upon the lame Terms with them^ as it did with their Fathers. Open your Eyes \ipon North Britain^ and there you lliall fee a flourilliing Epif- copal Ci^^^rr/j rabbled and infulted, and the old Doc- trine of i^^^/ and Branch moil barbaroullyreviv'd: And is it pofliblc to believe, that the Prefbyterians in England^ are other Things from the Prefhyte^ rians in Scotland? That thofe who on the other Side of the Tweed are Wolves 2n6. Tygers^ on this Side are Doves and Lambs F If any Man will flatter himfelf thus, let him renounce human Nature, and herd among the rnojl fiupid of Animals, who ap- prehend no Danger, 'till they.ai'e bound up for the Slaughter^ and the Knife pointing at their Throats. The oldW^vf of ' attacking the Church of Eng- land was by Mobs^ and Bullies^ and hard Names^ by calling Whore and Babylon upon our Worfhip and Liturgy, and kicking out our QUrg^j as Dumb- I^OgS'^ lvTuM.39. 7"^^ SCOURGE. 25 r DogS'y but now they have other Irons in the Fire;' a new Engine is let up luider the Cloak and Dif-; guife of T'emper^ Unity ^ Comprchenfton^ andthePrc?- tefiarpt Religion : Theii' Bufmefs iiow is not toj?(?r;;?:, the Churchy but to iiill it ajkep y to make us relax- our Care, quit our Defences, and neglc tie of the Matter, and expofe the reft? When' our Creeds ai^e recited with a Defign to interpret them into Herefy^ and our Articles treated upon to be explained into Schifm ? This is diredly the State of the Church of England -y and fhe had long fince been a Vagabond upon the Eaith, had not the generous as well as vigorous Oppofition of the woi'thy Lay-Gentlemen o£our Communion, and fome few or the Superior Clergy^ bravely interpos'd and prevented the Blow, The Calamities which xht Schifmaticks of old brought upon the Church, muft be confefs'd to be dreadful and almoft infupportablc > but thofe af- fe6ted only the Grandeur^ the Splendor^ the Reve-^^^ nues^ and the Eftabliftoment -y Whatever was out* ward in the Churchy fell fatally within their Gripe, and under the Violence of their Hands ; but the beft Part^ the Principles of the Church were ftill entire : But here is a Device, under the falfe No- tions o£ Unity ^ to poifon us at the /b^^/^z/z, to cor- rupt our Vitals^ and make us rotten at the Heart : And I beg leave to obfei*ve, that how loud ^nd noify foevcr maybe the O7, Preferment is ftill the Game j NuM, 39. 72^^ SCOURGE. 25 j Game > if every Thing in Controvcify were delruer^d up^ except they can ihare the Re-vcrmes^ and divide the Spoils their Confciences arc fo tender as not to be fatisfy'd : 'Tis a mighty Miilakc to think that the IVeaknefs of our Brethren confiib in boggling at a Ceremony 3 Alas ! their Tendernefs is made up of Envy^ of Ambition and Sacrilege 3 and to lee xhe Profits of the Church enjoy'dbyanybut them- felves, is a Fundamental Scruple^ and can never be over-rul'd. The Dijfenting Caufe in Point of Argument ^ it is certain has been long fincc abandoned, and the Qiicflion upon the Side of the Churchy has been xnanag'd by many learned and excellent Pens, and the Arguments are invincible 5 they never yet have, they never can^ they never will be able to anfwer them> they do at this Time^ and always will ilick in their Teeth > and therefore by a fine Dexterity they are perfuading the Church to a bafe Surrender, and to ftop the Mouths of her own Artillery : But alas ! they are tender and weak^ any thing ftrong ■may furfeit them, and put them into a Fermentj and therefore have a care of faying any thing in your own Defence, left you make them fretful and impatient^ and four their Tempers : This is a Charm given us to make us quit our own Reafonings, and to diveft our felves of thofe Arguments they never yet could wrefi from us 3 they have attacked the Church by Force and Famine-^ they have difputed with us and fiar'ved us, but they never yet could conquer our Reafons , and now they are upon a Tiew Stratagem^ fowing He?;jlock and Nightfhade in the Churchy to poifon and ftupify the Watchnen^ that they may furprife the Fortrefs while they arc alleep : But let us remember, the Things in Con* troverfy between us arc weighty and of the lafl Im- portance J no lefs than the Divins hfiitution of the Chrijliar^ j^ 5 4 TAeSCOVKGl. Num. 3 ^. i^hriftian Churchy the Authority of that Church up" on Earthy the Decency and Order of God's Worf.oip^ 'and Obedience to our Eccleftajiical Superiors > thefe, T conceive, are not fuch Trifles to be mangled, or given up, to humour ^;^jf ^^^'O' under the Sun, how tbrmidable foever in their Numbers, or how pow- erful in their Intereil> they are iacred Z)^/?o/^^ and ^rufts which the Church can never pait with, with- out betraying the Caufe of God, and the Concerns of Religion > and whenfoever^ or by ivhomfoever they are attacked, thofe Sons of Schiffn mufl be re- pulsed by Argument, with Vigour and Conftancy, and every Man ought, every honeft Man will op- pofe them to the utmofl > if ever there was a Sea- fon for Zeal and Fortitude^ now is the time, noAV, when Separation grows rampant^ tugs with us for Divinity and Power ^ is ftruggUng with the Church for the Eftablifloment^ is abufing the Indulgence^ and becaufe they are forbom by a Secular AU^ have the Impudence to call themfelves the Church of Eng" /^/^(^eftabliili'd by Law. . In the Name of God^ of Confcience^ of Modefly tand good Senfe^ what are thefe Vultures gaping after ? Are they not tolerated ? Have they any Penal Laws to be afraid of? Are they not as free in their Wor- fhipas the Church itfelf? Are they not every Way cafy, except v/hat arifes from the Uneafinefs of their own Temper ? But it is impoflible to oblige them, every frefh Conceflion is made a Motive to new En- croachments 3 they are as iniiitiable as the Grave^ and will never give over their Demands 'till they have fwallow'd^W you have> and here,^if we are not ftark blind, we may view the Retirements of their very Souls^ when they abufe our Favours with the moffc horrible Ingratitude^ and under the Shade of the Advantages they enjoy under us, pelt us with the moil infamous Characters^ and are more impu- dent NUM. 3 p. T^he S C O.U RG EV^ 2 5 5 dent in their Reproaches, than when the whole Dif- ciplinc of the Laws w. IS Ictloofc upon them : x\ny Man who is acquainted with xXiciv prefcm Motions would be apt to believe, that the Toleration has fower'd their Tempcis, inflam'd their Paffions, and provok'd them with a Vengeance 5 for when they are reaping theFruitsof moil profufc Favours, and the molt kind Indulgences^ they are crying out for Liberty and Forbearance^ as iF tliis terrible hard^ hearted Church was roalHng their CarcaJ/es upon St. Laurence's Gridiron. A Toleration^ cfpecially one fo large and /////, one would ha\'e thought, fhould have melted their Hearts, iind have produc'd a Calmnefi of Temper^ Refpe5l and Gratitude.y at leall fhould have ilopp'd their Mouths, and filenc'd their Pens : But the Effedb has been quite the Re- veife 'y lince the Act of Indulgence^ the Church has been pcrfecuted with more virulent and pellilent Scandals, than in thrice the time before 5 and the Toleration^ iniread q^ foftning their Spirits, has on- ly rais'd their Exnedlations, and they take it as an Earncft of fomewhat more to come. By this vou may fee what a craving and voracious Thing a Gen- tler Confcience is, which nothing can fatisfy but Power and Pre-eminence, to get Dominion into its Hands^ '^n^i the Church under its Lect^ Monday ss The SCOURGE. Num.+cx w -W" -w- ^^ 'W- fidcnce to talk Magifterially about Canons^ yfrticlcs^ and DifcipUne^ and at the fame time it mult be fa- tal, and of the laft Importance, for Gentlemen of Education and EJlate^ to deliver themfclves upon the Circumltances of their Country, in whofe [n- tcreft thcix prrj ate Fortune is concern'd, to whofe Support they contribute chcarfully^ and are oftert inhumanly rack'd above the Proportion of their Fel- low-Subjects. But tho', perhaps^, it may be above the Sphere of a Clergyman to dive into the Cabinet of Princes, to declaim loudly and popularly upon their Titles, *or to direci thofe whom he is call'd upon to obey ; yet it muft be confefs'd to be his Duty to afHftthe Magiftratc, by expoling the Villany of thofe tur-^ bulent Spirits who murmur at the La^ws^ and offer to difturb the publick Peace j 'to denounce the Ven- geance of Heaven againft Fusion and Schifrn^ and by all the 6'/'/r////^/x^rtillciyof theGofpel, topro- fecute thofe outrageous Principles, wherein Eter^ nity is concern'd, and which conlign Men irrever- iiblyinto a State oi Damnation : It is unqueftion- ably the Office and Bufinels of a Dii'ine^ to pro- teft againft Crimes of fo high and clamorous a Guilt, wherefoevcr he finds them -, fmce the fame Com- miflion which commands him to injlru6l^ equally empowers him to repro've : This is the proper Poll in which eveiy Clergyman is oblig'd to fer've his Country j and how dcfpicable foever the Sacred Or* der may now appear, I am confident no Profejjion of Men are able to fernje or difirefs it more : The infamous Pulpits between the Years Forty and Sixty, being too convincing an Evidence of the One, and S the 258 r;^^ SCOURGE. Num.4U the Loyal Clergy ever fince Sixty ^ as efFeftual a Proof of the Other. St. Paul^ had he ihew'd himfelf in this y?r///)«- lotis Age, no queftion would have incurr'd the Cen- fiire of our DiJJcnting Cafiiijls^ for what he faid to the Romans upon SubjeEiion and Obedience : Would not fuch as the Clergy have no'iv to deal with, have cry'd out againft the ^r^^i;^ Jpojlle? What ails this pragmatical Pulpiteer^ thus to harangue about Go- vernment and Submirtion to Ecclefiafiical Superiors ? Shall he pretend to teach the Commons of Rome ? Does Z?^ underftand their Privileges, which ^^y} all Under/landing but iheir own ? Mortify him, away with him into Cuftody^ and bring him upon his Knees-, declare him a Reproach and a Scandal to his ProfeJJion^ that he may learn for the future to freach^ and fay nothing? What has he to do to talk of Subje^ion and Paffive Obedience before a Free-born People^ when for Reafons of State, the Wifdom of the Nation fhall think fit to take their Pri;^^ and to plunder , is to do the Work of the Lord faithfully. A hard Heart is called a tender. IsTuM. 41 . 77:^^ S C O U RG E. 26 ^ a tender Confciencc, and the moll; 'violent Party up- on Eaith, arc dillingiiifli'd by the Name of iveak Brethren. Thefc Affronts upon our Language, might poffibly have pals'd in the IJays of ^lee^b' EHzahetb j but when >ve have fccn and felt their Flercenefs^ when the whole Nation has terribly fmartcd under their Fury^ to call upon us for Mode- ration now , is not only to lead us away wath the Sound of a JVord^ but to impofe upon the common Scnfc of the whole Kingdom. It is aftrangcthing, that thefe Men will not allow us the Wit that wx have bought fo dear ^ and that, if the burnt Child dreads the Fire^ they fhould think us fo below that Infant Policy^ as to permit them not only to raife the f ime Combu (lions and Flames, but th at w e mu fl be fuch Hark Fools^ as to leap into them upon their Perfuafions, that w^e fhall not be burnt. And yet this mull: happen, if ever we are ftript of thofe Laivs^ which ':\xc the prefent Security of our EflabJijhment : I am unwilling to charge the Separatifts with Defigns fo defperate, and I am pleas'd that the}^ have Encouragement to be fo eafy among us : But I am more than commonly furprif- ed, to fee the Faction humbly offer their Political u^ddrej/es to a Prince^ whofe Genius^ without con- fulting the Stars, a Man mayprefume toguefs, will not incline him to repeal any La-vss that are abfo- liitely necejjary to fecure the, State j and who w^ill take care, that Men of corrupted Principles fhall have no Liberty to abiife Authority, or to influence the puhlick Councils^ tho' they are never fo artfully tri}nm\l in the Habit of Confcience^ and in the Drefe of Religion : To me, it is the moll affronting Con- fidence in the World , that xh2(cDijJentii?g People fhould build their Hopes upon the good Affetlion of x}i\QSoi:ereig]i'y w^ho, without queilion, values their tf^^-zc'^r^/Profeflion oi Loyalty^ but upon a Review of , S 4 fomc i64 TheSCOUKGl. Num.4T. iome Tranfactions that are pafi^ may anfwer them, as the wife Solomon did his fool iJJj Brother^ Let them ajk the Kingdom alfo : However, they have very warm Thoughts about their Hearts^ and are very fanguine in tlicir Profpe^bs-, but if Men will hope againft Reafon^ they mull be contented to fet down with Di [appointment^ which is the na^ tural Effect of that pleafing Flattery. I confels, I am not politive that the Fanatick Party are fomenting thofc horrid Stratagems ////? noijo^ at Icail not in fo open, fo outrageous a I\'lan- ner : No, 'this is not a Seafon for Threats and 'Thunder y the good old Caufe has neither Generals nor Armies^ nor a Houfe of Commons to fupport it; It would reflect highly upon the Policy of their Anceflors^ to fhew their Teeth in fuch a Pof- ture as this^ and to bellow dillinctly agLunif the Eflahlijloment^ Down with it ^ down with it. Thefe you muft obfeiTC are Occafional Do&rines, to be us'd only w^hen the Time ferves : When they want Power they are weak Brethren : The Affair mull be done decently^ and dextroufly^ in a creeping^ whining^ fantiify'dT>vAed:^ not by too loud Alcxvms upon the Government, by telling it plainly an^ roundly what they would be at > The Villainy would be too flagrant to ciy out ahruptly upon the Church ^ ' Away with your fuperflitious Liturgy , w^e will ' have no flint ing of the Spirit : Away with your * Popifl) Canons and Articles > we are a Free-born ^ People^ and muft ha\^e our Liberty as we are ' Men^ and as we are Chriflians : x\way with your ' Gozvns^ Hoods^ and Surplices^ and all your Rags ' and Trumpery of the JVhore of Babylon : Down ' with the Bifhops and Archbifhops^ Deans and * Chapters t, we will have nothing of them, but ^ their Lands : Repeal, abrogate your Laws^ ^ that are a Thorn in the Sides of God's Eletl^ ■ ■ ■ c^he ' the Soi^er^ the Indujirious^ the 'Trading Part c^ ' the Nation > Gentlemen of the Church of Eng- ^ land^ will you pleafc to difmount^ if not, look yoii^ ' here are I'o many Barrels of tender Confdence^ rea- .'. dy, upon the Touch, to take Fire-^ fo that there •^ is J3Ut this Choice, to comply or pcrifli. • A Declaration of this Nature, I iay, would be too open a Difcovery s the Party has always ob- ferv'd this Prudence, never to cry out 'till there be Strength to bring forth 3 and therefore inllcad of thcfe boifterous Ailaults, the wcxy fame Views may be more hopefully carry 'd on in a fofter Strain. .' Pray ufe Moderation^ Gentlemen, Moderation is ' the Virtue of Virtues ! Moderation is a Mark of ^ Regeneration ! It is a Healings Uniting^ Protef- ' tant^ Reconciling Grace j and therefore, fince by .' our good Will, we would neither obey the Laws^ .' noY Jiiffer for difobeying them, dear Gentlemen, ■^ let us beg of you, abo\x' all things, ufe Modera- ' tion y Let us prevail with you to unite with us ' in a Proteftant Caufc j This will heal our Breaches, ' ftrengthen the Efiablipment^ and give you Fa- .* vour in the Eyes of the Dlfj^enters \ and if the ' Church will but put on this ^^ohite Robe of Mo* ^ deration •, it will make her like the Sun, bright > and glorious^ too refined to dwell upon the Earthy ' but immediately qualify her to be tranjlated. These are the Pageants that {o fatally hold our Eyes! thefe the gilded Prefciiptions, that, how wholfome foever to Appearance, are in Effect, the very Shirt of Hercules^ that was no fooner put on, but it/?6i>yc>;/V/theBody, and iiU'd it with in^ credible Torments, which nothing but Death and the Fire could put an end to ! They may celebrate the Praife of Moderation as much as they pleafc, but Experience will loon prove that they do not beheve one M-^ord of it themfelves : And is it not very 266 r/&^ SCOURGE. Num. 41. very odd, that thofe who are always for loading the Church w^ith the hlackefl Calumnies and Re- proaches, fliOLild, all of a fudden^ become fo veiy tender of her Reputation and Honour, that when they have in their Hands one of the hrightefi Vir- tues^ the moll: Jlnning Graces^ Ihould deny it their ^nnn People, and freely bellow it upon their old Friend^ the Church of England ? We have an Ex- simple before us -, They once promis'd to make King Charles the Firfi a molt glorious King, and they were as good as their Words 3 but it was by his Martyrdom : Their JVickedmfs and Dijloyalty made him glorious^ and not their Duty and yUle- 'glance 3 and if they have any Gloiy in If ore for this poor Churchy we may be fure it will be of the fame Nature and Qiiality. To hear a fnivelling Fanatick fneer out his awk- 'ward Compliments upon the Church of England^ is to me, like an Atheifl teaching Religion^ or a Libertine^ Virtue j juft like the mde Courtier^ who thought it became him to fay fomething to his Miftrefs^ and therefore he accolfed her thusj * Madam, you enjoy all the Excellencies andPer- ' fections that Men are apt to admire in Perfons ^ of your Sex, tho' not in the fame Manner with ' other beautiful Women y You have that delicate * and fine complexion'd Red^ not in your Cheeks ' indeed, but highly, and to the full in your iV(9/(? 3 * I fee the pure white Ivory, not in your 'Teeth^ ^ but being fo very near, it has flipt into your Lips , ' You have the fparkling Blacknefs^ not in your * Eyes^ but with greater Proportion in your '7'^(?//:? 3 ' You have no want of the flaming Yellow^ not ' in your Hair^ but Nature has diffused it all over ' your Skin-, You have two lovely Prominences ' and Protuberances^ not before^ but tranfplantcd ' and mounted behind upon your Shoulders 3 fo ' that Num.41. T^^^? SCOURGE. 257 ' that you have every Thing for which the JVits ' and the Poets commend their Millreficsj all the ' LHUcs^ the Rofes^ the Ivory ^ the Jlabafter^ the * Gold and Amber ^ in fhort, all the Elegancies and ' Ornaments in which the mofl: celebrated Beau- ' tics pride themfelves ^ and as to the Place^ that ^ is but a Circamfiance^ and lignifies not much", ' fo long as you poiTefs all thefe Accomplifhments ' in Subjlance and Reality, It is a little flirprizing, and will certainly befo to any Man, who is acquainted with the Dijfent- ing Schemes, how it com.es to pafs, that among all the Virtues, the Schijhiaticks could pitch upon Moderation to beftow their Encomiwrns upon 5 a Virtue as contrary to tbeir Principles, as Dark- nefs and Light; a moil fevere Invc6live upon their own Pra^ice^ and a Libel upon the whole P^r?;' .• It is to lay out their Talent in writing Panegyricks upon Wildfire and Gunpowder^ upon Spirits that inflame the World, and turn it upfide down : I- conreis, thofe mercenary Scribes have the 'Topicks in their own Hands, and they have a large Field of Matter before them , They have the Hiilory of Great Britain for eighteen Tears together, to ihew of what Temper their Moderation is ; 'Theirs is the Moderation of Rebellion and King-killings of Schifat and Sacrilege > In iTiort, it is the Moderation of the Inqnifition^ and of the Bow-ftring^ Arbitrary ^ Fierce^ pruel^ and Lnhumane : Their Defign is to moderate away the veiy Being of our Church j and a Ma^i of Moderation is no more than a DiJJ enter in Maf- qinrade^ who has the Church in his Mouthy and jhe Conventicle in his Belly, Monday 2(58 r>&^ SCOURGE, NuM,42. Monday Novemher i8. 171 7. O Thou that art waxen Old in Wickednefsj now thy Sins which thou hafl committed aforetime are come to Light. The Hifto- ry of Stifannay ver. 52. ^^^^1 F ever a Nation under Heaven deferves .,:-.si^«ses^,4 the Pity and the Prayers of Chriften- dom^ the poor Laity of Scotland have the jufteil Claim > a People grown gid- dy with Prefhytery^ diifemper'd with the Frenzy of Religion, Pricft-ridden to Perfections and manag'd dcfperately by the Craft of their Teachers > who inftead of impreiling upon them the Image of God^ thrive infinitely better by in- troducing tJoeir own I I {hall wonder no more at the prodigious Pro- grefs of the AlcoranoN^xxkitEafiernV^oxX*^^ when Experience gives me Conviftion enough, how fondly an Impofture is receiv'd at home j how ten- derly the fubtil Prefbyter is emhrac'dy who lays wide open the Gates of a fenfual Paradife. > fooths you in all your favourite Vices, indulges the Li- bertine and the fecret Sinner, and abandons all the Myfteries of his Faich, rather than lofe the Advan- tage of a Convert : He covers the hardefl Villainies with xhzfofteji Names j Perjury with him is me- ritorious, NuM.4i. the SCOURGE. 259 ritorioLis, if it advances the old Caufe > and Murder an JccompUjlment^ if the // ork of the Covenant be concern'd: The Virtues of iCbrifiian are no more than Mm-ality^ dry Tvlorality ! with him : There is no Way to be faved^ but by the Sands of his Hourglafsj his Religion lies in his Fifts^ and in the Strength of his Lungs ; and he knows well how to play upon the Rabble with broken Tind fmother'd Words, who fitally millake the Impulfe of Hea- • ven for fuch canting and prepoflerous Holinefs, and are taught to torture the Scriptures to prove Dam- nation upon thcmfelves. A right Scots Engineer^ if he can whine dex- troufly, will make a whole Congregation of them weep with an Ode of Horace^ or an Eclogue of Virgil^ efpecially if he foams luftily at the Lips^ and labours hard at the Delivery : This is the Soul- ravijhing Spiritualifi^ w^ho fets off Nonfcnfe with a wry Mouthy and recommends Blafphcmy with a Grace-pouring-down-Countenance : The Snuffling and Twang of the Nofe, pafles for the Gofpel- found •, and the diftorted Throwings of the Face, for the Motions of the Spirit : The whole Nation almoll is over-run with a Spiritual Itch^ and the Holy Siflerhood^ the Daughter of Sion^ foi*footh, and the Matrons of the New Jerufalem^ are deep- ell: in the Infection*: Thefe bring with them Ig^ norance and Itching in abundance, and the Holder- forth equals them in the one^ and gratifies them in the other : Whatever Z)<>t^/W he is upon, his jlp- plication is on the iurcfl Side j he knows the Ait of plowing with the Heifer^ and is fenfible if he pleafes the M^ife^ he never fails to preach the Huf^ band into his Pocket. This is the Cement of the Prefbyterian Caufe, and for this Rcafon, the Lead- ers of the Party make ufe of the moil fcandalous Arts to acquire an ungodly Reputation among the Multitude 5 270 r;6^ SCOURGE. NuM.41. Multitude 5 and the one is not more ready to lead than the other to follow ^ the People love to be deceived, and place their Abufcs among their Blef- fings^ and their Guides glory in the Cheat \ it is their Delight, their Honour, and their Crown. It is a Maxim among the Scots Divines^ that /God fees no Sin in his covenanted People j and there- fore, you London Rakes^ be no more a Scandal to .the Church of England^ but away over the Tweedy where Baftards and Debauchery ai'e infallible Sym- ptoms of Election -, becaufe where Sin abounds^ the Grace of God much more abounds. The Lambs of Chrift m-xy {omcximts fp or t together -, Si.Faul^ you know, had a La-w in his Alembers^ and a Man can never be a true Saifit 'till he has had a found Fall^ fuch as Da-vid's upon Bathfoeba. Never were the Pagan Theatres, or an Eng- liflj M A S QU E R A D E, entertained with more lufcious obfcene Harangues, than are daily flowing from the Pulpits of thefe Northern Schifmaticks-y a four, unfociable Tribe, with Faces grim as their horrid Decree of Reprobation^ but, like old Lecher s.^ checquering their Nonfenfe with the le-i^d- eft Similes^ and indulging their wanton Fancies, when they perfuade People they are preaching in Parables: When they fpeak of Ci^n/, they repre- fent him fometimes as a Gallant, courting^ k.ifling^ toying upon the Breafts of his Miftrefs 5 fometimes they introduce him as a lovely Boy^ and immedi- ately defire to ro-wl upon him, and fo have their fill of Love. Thus are the Myfteries of the Canti- cles profan'd, and the Morals of the People infen- fibly debauch'd, who inllead of being fjp ported in their Spiritual Life^ are only fupply'd with Meat for their Lufts. A Modeil Englifiman would admire, that Per- fons of fuch bafe and brutifi Ideas ^ fliould ever i^o prevail ^ KtJM. 42. T:^^ S C O U RG E. 2^1 prevail upon the Ingenuity of a whole Nation, as to obtain an EftabliJJjmerit^ and erecl an ablblute Dominion over the Souls and Bodies of the Peo- ple : That a Set of illiterate, unedif\dng Laymen^ ihould tyrannize Avith the molt r//^/V/J3/ya>//>/^, and trample upon the Ruins of an Epifcopdl Churchy which was once the Gloiyand the Defence of the reformed World: A Coniillory of PreJJ^yters^ are like a Gang of Night Robbers^ ftrip'd of the com- mon Sentiments of Humanity^ defperatc and un- tractable : Their Souls are call in a Mould diffe- rent from all Chriftims under Heaven : There is no Church but they feparate from, both in /For- ffjip and Practice r, and there is no Government upon Earth could bear with them, if theybehav'd themfelves in other Nations as they have done ia Scotland: Confufionis infeparable from Pr^/^j/^rj, and the Caufe has been conftantly held u^hj Muf- kets and Bibles^ Pj aim-Books and rufty S-ivorcls ; al- \vays flying in the F^cc o£ Jiahority^ encouraging the' moll formidable RebeUions, making a Leagns with Death, and a Co'venant with Hell. Ask a Scots Carrier onian^ What Opinion he has of the Lord's Prayer^ and he will tell you it is a fooliJJo Bazvble^ a Rattle for Children, the Popijh Badge of a Prelate-, that he could make a better himfelf-y that Chrift w^as a mere Boy ^ atleail:, that he was but yoimgwhtnh.Q composed it, andw-ould heartily be afiam'd o£ it^ if e\'cr he appear'd upon the Earth again: The Ten Commandments are a childijld Ordinance^ and infipid Inllitution 3 and the Jpoftles Creed is an old rotten Wheel-barrow^ to carry Souls to Hell. The i-eading of the 6'<:r/^///r?J is entirely banilh'd from the Kirk AJJemblies^ and fucceeded by an emp- ty unintelligible Cant^ drefs'd up in the mod filly ridiculous Exprcffions, unbecoming the Gravity of Preachings %ji r>&^ SCOURGE. NuM.42; Preachings ;ind the Solemnity of drcine IVorJlnp : Their Sermons are a heap of Ibff, nonfenfical Rhap* fodies^ Ihiffed generally with familiar and immodclt Dialugiies between the Devil and the Preacher. Baptifm is no more than making the Child a Prcf^ byterian 5 and to be qualify'd for the Communion^ is to be in a deep Defpair. Self-murder is call'd a "whulfome Difeafe j and to be out of ones Wits^ is to be under Exercife. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is tiirn'd into a Farce^ and made a pompous Shew of Devotion j when a whole County meet together in the Fields^ and one is hungry j and ano-^ iher is drunken^ Bartholomew Fair is a Scene of Order^ compar'd with the Huriy and Confufion of this Chriftian Feaft : The confecrated Elements^ and Cakes and Jle are under the 7^;;^^ Roof: The Preacher frauds upon the Barrel-head^ whilft the People, intoxicated with Geneva^ are fwiliing at the Tap below, and wafhing away their Sins m I'ears of the l^ankard^ and in Bumpers of Strong Beer: Thus they fpendthe T>:ij{nRiot -md Luxu- ry ^ ilrolling from one Booth to another 3 and at Night the Toung Men ayid Maidens prophefy un- der Hedges and Trees, and often qualify them- felves for a Suit of Sackcloth and the Stool of Re^ pentance. But it is unaccountable to obferve, what Pre- judices are infus'd into the Rabble by thefe Zea- lots againllthe Epifcopal Party^ and ihc.EftablifJj-' ment of the Church of England: They are taught to believe, that the RomifJ) Mafs and' the EnglifJj Liturgy are the famc^ cc^AXyprofane and idolatrous > and therefore the Bifiops are to be fmitten Hip and Thigh s becaufe the Law fiys, all Idolaters are to be jion'd to Death: The Prefbyterian Com- monalty will venture their whole Fortune that the Bijhops are Cloven-footed^ and not ihaped like other Men > Num.42. 37?^ scourge, lyi Mcn-y and their Teachci-s perfuadc them, that they have no Shadows^ bccaufe the De^'il has taken away the Shadovj^ as an Earnell: of the Stib* fiance^ for their oppofing the Work of the Coz^e-^ nant in the Land. So inveterate is the Prejudice of the Laity againft that Sacred Ordcr^ that they frequently fcratch the Word out of their Bibles^ and alter the Expreflion of St. Pctc7\ by reading inflread of Chriji the Bifhop, Chrift the Prefby terian of our Souls. To hear an Orthodox Alinifter with them, is a greater Crime than Murder and Adultery j and to converfe with the curfed Curates (the regular Di- vines) is the Sin againft the Holy Ghoft : The Peo- ple are forbid to relieve the poor ejected Clergy upon the Pain of Damnation^ who are rcduc'd to the lail; Extremities, and meet Vv^ith a different Fate from the Prefvyterian.Gofpcllers^ who always frow fat under Confinement, and may juflly oail that they are fure of Crozvns for their Suf- ferings, and thit Angels come to vifit them in their Troubles. Nor are their Compliments ypon the Crown more genteel than thofe they beftow upon the Miter '^ it is common with them to call their Dogs by the Name of their King^ to excommuni-' cate their Prince^ to call his Supremacy Erafti- anifm^ and an Encroachment upon the Privileges of Chrift : They deny his JurifdMion in Ecclefi^ aftical Matters ^ they convene Synods without his Royal JVrit^ and it is a ftanding Maxim, that no King but King Jefus^ has a Power to adjourn their general AiTemblies : Happy therefore was it for my Lord of Bangor^ that he fell into the Hands of an Englijl) Convocation^ v/here he may be fkreen'd eternally^ by the Interpofition of the Re^ gal Power 5 but a Confiftory of Prefby ters would T fcorn ^ 274- 77^^ SCOURGE. Num;42. fcorn to be prorogu'd^ they would puifue him with a Vengeance^ and make him glad to fign his Re- cantation with Drop of his Blood. N. B. "THIS [mall Eflay, is himhly offered to the Chhflian Confideration cf Mr. Thomas Brad- bury 'j to be inferted by way of Appendix to his ini- mitable Sermon^ preacJfd Nov. f . apn the Prece- dent of Priellcraft. Monday NtUL43. 7Z-^ SCOURGE. 275 Monday No^oeynher if. 171 7. Hearken to the Sound of the Trumpet ; but they faidy fFe \ji\\ wot hearken. Jcr. vi. 17. O U R old Friend, the Fanatick Haters is IHII alive^ and if the Infirmities of a very great Age would have gi^'en him leave, you fhould have heard from him long before now. In the great Rebellion^ we had juil ///<:/:; a Man as you are, and I would perfuade my fclf you are the Defcendant, in an Hereditary Line^ of Mercurius Civicus^ a very brave Fellow^thay fomieriy would fpeak Truth, and let us into the fecret Hiftories of thofe Villa- nies, that quite extinguifh'd the Honour of the BritiJJj Ijland^ and almoil exceeded the Belief of thofe, under whofc Eyes they were tran{ia6led: •Forgive therefore the Fondnefs of an old Cavalier^ and let me congratulate you upon the great Cha- racter that Pofierity will beftow upon your Aft';;;^- ry \ for it cannot be, but the indefatigable Induf- try, and the Integrity that give a Sanfiion to your Writings noiv^ will make you valuable by all the Lovers of Old England for ever. Long Life, you know, is of it fclf a Difeafe -, but it would be lupportable to me, if I could avoid one melancholy Reflection that makes me foncy mv T i . ' fclf 276 r>&^ SCOURGE. Num. 45. (cif grown you/2g again y there is fomething in the Deportment of the p7-efent Age, that gives me fome Ideas of that wicked Generation that were a Plague to my younger 2}ars : But what are the Purfuits of the Faction at this Time^ I leave to your Saga- city and Rcfolution to rcprcfent -, what I iliall at- tempt will be to defcribe, tho' in imperfe^ Cba- raclers^ in what Polhire were the Affiiirs of the Publick, w^hen Prefhytery (ate at the Council-Board^ Independency voted in our Parliaments^ and Fana^ ticifm had the Reins of Power in its own Hands. • And, beheve me. Sir, the Diftrefies of the Church were fuch, that whoever had a Refpect for Confciencc^ for Religion^ for a God^ could not but lament with Tears, to fee what Infimy and Re- proach attended upon every thing that had but the Appearance of Good and Sacred. The Suffer-* ings of the Church began with the Troubles of the King^ and increas'd as they did : The Traytors (aw that the DoBrine and the Difcipline of the Efta- hlijhment were fuch fleady Pillars of the State^ that it was impofhble to reach the Crown^ but by flep- ing firft upon the Ruins of Prelacy^ and the Or- ders of the Church 5 and excufe me for obferving, that the Primate firft, and four Years after, the King of England^ were both murder' d in the fame Month, the one upon the ^cnth o£ January^ and the other upon the 'thirtieth > Monarchy follow 'd Epifcopacy to the Grave^ and Religion^ that was, t\iQ. Mourner^ dropt in at laft. Good God! What Variety of Se^s had we, and all ingender'd and en- couraged by Rebels^ who by dividing the Nation into infinite inferior Parties, ftrengthen'd their own Ufurpations^ and made each Party unable to rife or to mutter under the common Oppreffions. We ^ad the Indcpendejit^ the Anahaptift^ the Fifth Mo- nm'chijly the ^laker^ the Seeker^ the Ranter^ the Adamite^ Num. 4 3 . T-&^ S C O U RG E. 277 ■Adamite^ the veiy Jtheift himfelf for Company > mid all thcfe the natural Spawn of the Frelhyte- rian^ that prolifick and Linriily Leviathan^ that not content to take his Palbme in the Lemain Lake^ has troubled the Waters in all the Parts of the Chrijiian JVorld. So many Se5ls as there Vvxrc, fo many Plagues we had in this little Ijland-y and what could we expect would be the Iltue of this Complication of Misfortunes^ but that the Inte- rell of Rehgion would be weaken'd, and its Re- putation contemptible ? Efpecially when we had To many hare-fac'd Enemies, that were licensed to fall foul upon the Churchy and outilrip'd, if poffible, that infamous Example that w^as given them by a moit unco'dfcionahle Parliament. Our Bipops were ready to be torn to Pieces as the Limbs of Anti-chrifl: j and Multitudes of the Clergy had no Reward for their Fidelity and good Principles^ but the moll barbarous and favage Cru- elties that exceeded the Tyranny of a Grand-Seig- nior. The Liturgy^ which they protclled only to reforyn^ was foon call out to make room ^ov Blas- phemy and Enthuftafm : The Churches^ that were adorn'd by Gentlemen of Honour and Education^ were made the trading Places of Mechanicks and the bafeft of the People > and the only Quahfica- tion for the Pulpit was, t» be able to make one. A glorious and a ble [fed Reformation ! But the Church did not fuffer alone, nor v/as Religion the only bleeding Sacrifice j \h^ State was a Partner with the Church in its Lofles, and wc foon iaw what it was to wantaAj>^, \\A\o{QLoyns were not half fo heavy as the little Finger of that 'Tyrant who ufurp'd his Throne, and was fuch a hardened Reprobate.^ as firil to /t-///, and then to /^.A"^ Poffeffion: Liberty^ the Darling of the Nation, the i?M% of Kings, but the ^;?^/>^ of Tray tors: Li- T J ' bcrtXy 27S TheSCOVKGE, NuM.45. berty^ that /'^ij/j- never think fccurc, 'till they -fue for it in the Fielr/^ tho' they have it in Poilcflion, and no one queiHons their T/tk : Liberty^ that was us'd to piuilie and dc^xoy Prercgatroe^ was at laft confin'd within the narrov/ Compafs of a G£^<^/and a Dungeon 3 nor did it fare better with Property neither, for no Man cnjoy'd fo much of that as the Beggar and the Bankrupt^ that had Httle to be robb'd of but the Latchet of his Shoe : Sequefira- tlons^ Plunders^ Loans^ "Taxes^ and vafl Offerings to the puhlick Faith ^ devoin*'d all that was either Inheritance or Pur chafe 3 and we could call nothing our o-jun^ but our Sins and Follies^ that had made us miferable ^ Violence and Rapine ^yas the great I'rade of thofe Times, and what a mercinary Sol- dier left, a rapacious Coymnittce-rnan would be fure to take, unlefs a Man would barter away his Honour and his Eternity^ by giving up his Confcience as a Ranfom for his Eft ate. And the Reafon of all this wa.^, becaufe the whole Kingdom was plundered of its, Birth-right, the Laws J which, fo long as they were in the Hands of the King^ were every ones Security, from the Peer to the ?/;^^.^f/ Sub jeer: But when once Ufurpation was the Regent, in the Parliament firll, and after- wards in the King's Palace.^ we had no Law but the Pkafure and Luft of Tyrants, whofe Oppref- lions were Unfupportable, becauie their Power was arbitrary., and th eir 'Tyranny boundlefs . W hat was Alagna Charta worth, when it hung at the Hilt of tloe Sword ? And what was the import of the Laws^ when Votes were too hard for Statutes -y when Tryals were remov'd from JVeftminfler to the Camp^ and Sentence. \r:^s^ given at the Mouth of the Canon? Not that this w^as the Fate only of the honed Royalift^ tho' his Mifcries were beyond Meafurc iDtole- Num.43. T/j^ SCOURGE. 27P intolerable •, but the ^duhole Nation began now to be fcnfible, what a miierable Bargain was made by the unlMippy Change of the bcft EJlahliJlment upon Earth, for Athelfm^ Hypocrify^ and Confu- /ton : The Prince indeed got t^tvo Cro^cvns for one i a Cro-wn of Martyrdom^ and a Croivn of G/cr)', for a Diadem of "Thcrns % but what his Enemies gain'd, befides Infa?ny and a Curfe^ and a /?^rV /£7/i^r Confcience^ they themfelvcs will find at the great Day of Retribution 5 and what the Nation loll:, we may reckon a little no'W : We loft a Prince^ too ^{?^i for us to ^5 and, good God ! too [acred toh^ de fir oy\l: We loft ouriL^wj- too j and whea our Monarchy^ onv Rdigion^ our Libe?'ties and Pro^ jperties were all gone. Vengeance went at laft out of the Field to the very Parli^^in-ent-Houfe^ where all our Miferies had been form' d^ to in\^ade Privi- leges too y and to let ihofc Butchers of the World fee, how little even tbey ihould get by hrft behead- ing the whole Parliament, that others might be able to behead the King. But what Refpccl did this illufirious City meet with, after all its /?7>;^i^;//>j, its "Tumults^ its Riots^ and unheard o£ Impieties for a damn'd Caufe ? Why, there were Orders given to kill Man^ T'Voman^ and Child^ and to fet it 0' fire : There were Speeches: made in the Ploufe to take off the Heads of the moft v;calthy Citizens > the Pofts and Chains wxre pull'd up, and the great Metropolis left to vifible Dangers of a Majfacre : Was not the2l?'zcwfeizM, the Fortifications about the Town demohih'd, the Militia voted out of the City Hands^ and every Houfe expos'd to the Mercies of an outrageous Ene?ny^ that was cloath'd with Plvjider^ and fed with Blood ? Did not an infolent General ride with his Ai-my through the Streets^ for no other Rca- ibn but CO treat FqqIs^ at Icaft with Contumely and T 4 Reproach^ 280 r/6^ SCOURGE. NuM.43. Reproach^ and to triumph oyer thofe who had af- £fled lb effectually to ruin the ConlliHition both in Church and State? Thefc were the Infults throv/n upon this famous Body > tho' they were fcnfible enough by this time^ of their pall FoUks^ they were forc'd tamely to fubmit > a powerful and 've- teran y^rmy lying near the Gates, to hold them by the "Throats^ while their Friends at IFeftmmfter carry'd off their Plate^ and pick'd their Pockets. Strange Returns one would think, for a confiding City^ after all her Perjuries, to receive ! And to add all the Infimy and Difgrace that was poffi- ble to our Miferies, this abandon'd Fa^ion was compos'd of the very Scum o^ Mankind -^ Fellows of dehaiich'd Lives, of impure Confciences, of fa- vage Minds, of fuch bafe and defperate Fortunes^ that they were not only the Plague^ but the Fermin of the Nation : Thefe were the Honourable^ the Right Honourable^ his Highncfs^ his Excellency^ and fuch Filth of f^^ Heraldry J that they were a Re- proach and Blemiih to Chriftianity^ to Honefty^ to the Kingdom fliall I fay? Nay, a Diflionour to the Hangman^ a Stain and Difgrace to the very Gallows, And now, n\y Country-men^ be for once advis'd by an old Man > beware in time^ and not venture upon the fid Accounts of a to^ Repentance : There is nothing that makes the Englifi more ridiculous abroad^ and unfortunate at ho?ne^ than a natural Vanity to try Conclujions^ and to enterprize upon frep Experiments Rill, tho' they have fmarted fe- verely for their fiUy Attempts, and have fo often trfd things to very miferable Purpofes : To alter an Efiablijhment^ believe me, has nothing certain but Mifery 5 and whoevei* attempts to introduce Novelties among us, and to tear up Foundations^ am confident will periih under the Ruins of ' Buildings : We are now happy if we knew IS roduce lons^ I I of the jj Num.43. The scourge. 281 is not enough to Hiy, we intend only to go f/?:is far^ we would take away this Rafter^ remove this Beam^ and abohfh this Ccretr.ony^ that is ilich an Eyefore to usj for when Men begin to mend a Co/iftitiition^ by taking it to Pieces^ God knows how far others may be tempted to proceed by their Example and Encouragement : Have a Care there- fore, and lend not fo much as a Finger.^ led the leail i^ilillance Ihould be fatal.^ left we fhould again fall into Diftraclions and Outrages by the Artifices o^ dejigning Mcn^ who lead us like i^^ but from the Confequence of this vile Notion, that the Government was a- gainfc the Church ? ■ I dare not offer to fufped, Worfhipful Sir, that a Gentleman of your fearching Wifdom could be fcduc d by fo fhallow an Artifice as this ; but I muft believe tiiat fomc of that Ho- nourable Grand Jury had fomething of this Miftake upon them, when they prevail'd upon their Foreman to charge Sedition upon my weekly Rejrrehenjiojis 5 for I am bold to hope that it is difficult to make good the Charge but by Confequence, as if my Difaffedion to a Conventicle, miift unavoidably imply Sedi- tion againft the State : So little have I endea- voured Chmxh-EJIabli/hmentj &c. 295 vour'd to dcfcrvc the lead Part of this Imputa- tion, that I have conftaniiy inculcated uppn the PubUck, a moft dutiful Subiiiillion to the Trince ; upon whofe illuftrious Houfe I have deUvct'd my felf with as much Rcfpccl as the Principles of the Church o^ Eiigland ohYvi^c the moft Loyal Subieft to exprefs ; and therefore, when the Laws of England ^n^ j^^dee it Sedi- tion for a Clergyman to defend his own Order from Ufurpers, to recommend Obedience to his Superiors, and to expofe the Pretences, . of thofe who arc branded with Schip/n by. a Sta- tute of the Realm ; forgive my Eoldncfs, but I confefs it will be my Glory to plead guilty. I am fenfible enough, that I have beftowy ver}' remarkable Charaders upon the T^tjfent- ing Brotherhood through the Courfe ofimy Writings ; I have vilify'd their Worfliip, be- caufe I believe it to be treacherous and falfe ; and expos'd their Profpefts, which I (hall un- conteftably prove to be defperate ; but where have I cenfur'd the Loyalty of the Gentlemen ? Where have I attempted to pervert them from their Obedience? The Notice I have taken of their Principles relates only to the Proportion of T>anger they lay upon the Church, which I make to affect the State only by Confequence, from the ftrid Union bctv/een the Ecclcfiafti- cal and Civil Pov/ers 5 and 1 111 all eternally be of this Opinion, that whoever is outrageouily a Foe to the Church of Eiigland, is in Effed U 4 a falfc 1^6 The Danger of the a falfc Friend to his Country, and an Enemy to the Crown and Dignity of the King. That the Uiffenting Body havQ ftain'd them- felves with thole black Colours I have fhewn them in, that I have juftly entcrtaiii'd a Jealoufy of their Defigns, and have done no more than my Duvfy in cautioning my Fellow- Subjeds to beware of the Danger, you remember, Sir, I have promised to make good : And here I (hall open fuch a Scene as will fet my Countrymen "Upon the Gaze, to obferve the Infolence of a Party only tolerated among us, commit fuch Outrages upon a national Church, as no Age, no Place can Parallel 5 and if I demonftrate their Schemes and Purfuits diredly bend to overturn the fundamental Pillars of our Ecclefiaftical Po- lity, that they attempt to inflame the Populace, to halloo the Mob upon our Clergy, to ridicule our Worlhip, and explode our Difcipline, that they reprcfent the moft honourable Part of our Communion, theMagiftracy and the Miniftry, who adorn the Places of Truft, of Profit and Honour in the State, as Idolaters, as Rakes and Atheiils ; I befpeak the Voice of the Nation on my fide, and the Thanks of mofi:, when 1 pro- nounce them Enemies to the Church and Glory of England'-, and 1 fhall then be acquitted of the heavy Charge of Sedition, even with the Ap- plaufe of that Honourable Grand Juryy whofe Difpleafiire I now unfortunately fufFer : Then will it appear before the Sun, that thofc Flights of Compliment they fomethiies flins; upon oui: ' ^Eftabliflv Chunh-Eftabl'ifi)ment ^ &c. 297 E-ftabliflinient, arc no more than Decoys and falfc Fires, to charm us mto a State of Dotage and Lethargy, to (have our Locks wherehi our Strength lies, that they may be able to bind us, and bring in the Thilijiines, that is, themfelvcs, upon us. And this I fliall difcovcr to the World, with- out fearching our Annals for the Tranfaclions of fome Ages that are paft, without Raking, as they call it, into the old Threadbare Hifcory of Forty-one 5 but I fhall charge it t7nmediately up- on them, and look no farther backward than a Tear or two-, which will fervc my Purpofe with a Witiiefs. You are in Pain,* Worfliipful Sir, I am con- fident, to find fo formidable an Indiclment drawn exprefly againft thoCe quiet charitable People the Trotejlant T>iffenters^ who arc fo heartily attach'd to the Intereli: of the Crown, and have approv'd themfelvcs upon all Occa- fions as the bed of Subjcds; but 1 fhall furprile you more, to acquaint you, that under the Shel- ter of Loyalty y they befpatter us in the moft in- folcnt Manner ; and becaufc they enjoy a Liber- ty of Confcience, refolve to make no Confcience of their Liberty ; as if they had no other Way to recommend themfelvcs to the Throne, than by afperfing the Churchy that Church of which the Prince is the great "Defender upon Oath^ and who knows well that his Royal Honour rifesor falls with the Grandeur or the Decays of the Church of England, Yet 298 The Danger of the Yet all this will look like Scandal and Ha- rangue, without Evidence to fupport it ; and here I fhall behave my felf to the Party with the fame Refped of Juftice as I defire to expe- rience my felf ; I fhall not accufc them with a long Train of Innuendo's and Surmifes, with . Confequcnccs fctch'd, as it were, from a foreign Land, or with Meanings that poiTibly with hard Labour might 5e rack'd from their Principles ; but I fhall fairly turn their own Artillery upon them, charge them with their ow^n Words, di- red vifibly where they are to be found, and life fo much Honour in the producing of them, that for this 1 depend upon the Applaufe of my very Enemies. But before I enter upon this unthankful Of fice^ I beg leave to premife, that I do not pre- tend, in this fiiiall Compafs, to make a perfed Colledion of T>ijfentmg Compliments^ as if I had drain'd the Subjed, and tortur'd every Page to fqueeze out this extravagant Mifcellany of good Breeding, Alas ! this is but a Specimen of their Court efy ; fhould I have ranfack'd every Libel, folio w'd them through every Kennel, and ftirfd in all the Dregs oi Fanatick Rage, I might have appcar'd in Folio^ and given a Sur- feit to every Reader, as well as to my felf One Half-JJjeet (happy in efcaping the "Frefentment of Grand juries) that thrice a Week in (iich an Emolument to the Publick, would have been tome an inexhauilible Mine of Villainy, Athe- ifm, and Profanencfs: But that Wretch I de- fpifci Chu^ch-Efiabltfhmc'fft^ &c. 299 fpifc, I have higher Views, and will delineate the Sentiments of the Party from thofe who^^ /"// and out oefore th^Uj and figbv thar Batteis^ who arc Men of Figure and of Letters among them, the Champions and Oracles of the Caufe. CHAP. II. Reflections of the Proteftant Diflenters tipon the ^ Church of England /;^^^;/^r/3:/j tifon the Cler- gy a?id Laity 5 more particularly upon the Honourable, ^;^^ Right Honourable who are employed in the Civil Offices of the Nation : TiibliJIod within thefe lafi two Tears. ' T/irE>R.E I to frame ray Opinion of the VV ' Church, from the Pra&ce of fomq * araongft us, I fhould rcnoimce her Commmiion ' to Morrow. Zeal of the T^orics^ Page 17. ' The Church o^ England has hang'd, JaiPd^ ' fin'd, and ruin'd many FamiHcs for Nonconformi- ^ ty, not complying with Ceremonies, which the ' Church call'd indiiferent. Rcajonsfor an U^iion^ p. 10. ^ BiSkop Hooper was for a thorough Reforma- ^ tion -ivithoHt the Ceremonies, as at prefent. p. 1 5 . ' The Tories and High-Church, notwithibnd- ' ing their Presences to Loyaltv, will be found-by ' their Actions to be the greatcll Rebels in Nature. p. 20. ' The Church Party who are for the King, is ^ but a fmall Number to the rcfl;. p. 21. ' H05LRIBLE have been the Abufes of theTefl:, ' to 3 op The Daisxer of the * to the ,damning of Souls, as well as Diflei-vice to * the State, p. 22. ' High-Church can occafionally conform with ^ Oaths of Allegiance, Abjuration-Oaths, or any * Oaths, and fpue them all up again. How many ' pretended Church-men are there who hardly ever ' entered into a Church in their Lives, or fcarccly ' ever took the Sacrament for any other Motive ' than as a Qualification for their Places ? Are not ' thefe Occafional Conformifts ? And fhould not * fuch a Law be repeaFd, that heaps Damnation ' Aipon Men ? p. 24. ' In the late King James's Time theTythe-Pig ^ fqueek'd. p. ibid. ' The DilTenters are generally much better Liv- * ers than thofeof the Church oi England: They ' do not give themfelves fuch a Loofe in thofe reign- ' ing and flagrant Vices of profane Swxaring, ' Drinking, Whoring, and breaking the Sabbath. p. 58. ' Our common People of the High-Church are * as ignorant in Matters of Religion as the bigot- ' ted Papifls, which gives great Advantage to our * Jacobite and Tory Priefts to lead them where * they pleafe, or to mould them into what Shapes ^ they pleafe. p. ^p. ' The People had better have no Religion, pro- ' vided they are fubie6l: to the Law of Nature, than ' to be pofrefs'd with it in the Circumflances it is * in with us. Chriftianity no Creature of State. p. ip. ' There is Witchcraft inthevery Nameof the ^ Church. Reafons for enabling Protejiant DiJJen^ ters^ 6cc. p. 20. ' The Intereft of the Diffenters, if properly ex- * erted, is greater than that of any other Body of * Mcnamongft us. p. 22» ' These Church-Ejlahhjloment^ Sec. 301 * These high and fierce Zealots are for Terms ' ofCommiinion of their o-zi;;? EftabHfhment, 'zc/ri;- * ouf Scripture. EntyViS'^r;^^^^/ Plymouth, p. ij. ' The Crofs iiiBaptifmi God- fat hers and God- * mothers j a Liturgy 5 the Authority of Bifhops, ' and their Courts, are not things of Chrifh's In- * Ititution, but tend to the Prejudice of his Caufc ' and Kingdom, p. 14. ' The true Church of England rather complies ' with, and fuffers the Forms and CcTemonies, than ^ approves. 1^oryif?n the worft of the Two. p. 8. ' There's not a Man of them that would not * vote for more Ceremonies, out of mere Spite to * Fanaticifm. p. p. ' It is well known there are many that pais for * Protefhints, and zealous Church-men too, that ' would leave no Stone unturn'd, by which the ' Overthrow of our prefent Settlement might be ' promoted. The Repeal of the Act againft Occa-> fional Conformity, p. lo. ' The Clergy of the Church of England have ' been forc'd to adminifter the folemn Ordinance ' of the Lord's Supper to Perfons of known fcan- ' dalous Lives, and debauch'd Practices, when * they have demanded it as a Qualification for a ^ Place of Profit or Honour. The Removal of the Sacramental Tefi. p. 17. ' The Church broke our moil folemn Engage- ' ments and Alliances j the Church betray'd our ' Confederates, and made a Sacrifice of the Dif^ ' trefied in our Protection j the Church divided a * vi6torious Army j the Church huddled up an ig- ' nominious Peace \ and the Church, for our lalt- * ing Security, after all thefe glorious Exploits, * binds in Fetters half the Subjeds in the King- * dom. An Equal Capacity^ ^c. p. 24. ^ The Church oi England as by Law Eftabliih'd, ' upon 301 Tbe Danger of the ' upon that Foot, has nothing to claim of fupevior ' Merit before the DifTentcrs. p. 30. ' None but God himfclf is to determine the * Methods of hisown Worfhip. Bradbury V iS'^r- moH on the ph of ^oYzmhtw p. 11. ' That the Civil Magiftrate has any Right to ' direct his Subjedls what Rehgion they fliall chufc^ ' or puniili them for differing from him in fuch ' Matters, has not yet been made appear. PeirceV Letter to Dr. Snape. p. 34. ^ The Concerns of Earth and Heaven are to be ' kept afunder 5 we mufi: not bring the Hire of a * Whore, and the Price of a Dog into the Houfe ' of the Lord. Men fhould not take Sacraments .' becaufe they are Officers, but becaufe they are ^ ChriflLans 5 or think that eating the Body and ^ Blood of the Lord is any Preparation for eating ' the Bread of the Government. Such Profana- ' tions as thefe are their Livehhood 5 the Money ' they get for Adminiftrations and Teilimonials, ' makes them filcnt to one of the greateft Impieties. -' that ever Wkis committed in the World. Brad- bury V Sen7ion on the ph of Nov. p. 17. ' To eliablifh the Com.mon-Prayer Book by the ^ Laws of the Land, is not to promote the Duty, * but the Book , it is not Prayer it felf they are rC'- ^ warding or allifting, but a Compliment paid to * their own Infufficiencies. p. 18. 'They have not only, declar'd againll the * Church Q^ England's being a Belle Ferne^ but they ' have gone farther, and will not allow her to be an ' authoritative old Woman. They declare againft ' her Threats as Chimera's, that ihe has no Rods ' over the Chimney, and that her angry Words * are mere Air. Having fcrupled her Being, and ' fet at nought her Railing andCenfures, theyfeem ^ nojt to value her Bleffings and Favour much more, ' but Church'Rjlahlifhmeyit^ *& c . 303 * but boldly Lidcrt her fair Words will butter no Parf- ' nips J that her fpecious Pretexts are mere Shams^ ' and that iTic has not Interell enough to keep off a ' Beating. But allowing her to be a L^^j, fhc can ' by no Means be excellent and holy, inafmuch as fhe ' .is acknowledged to have led a bad Life, and been fo ^ far from having legitimate Heirs aijoying her Ef- ' tates regularly, that fhe has had feveral By-blows, ' mn away with Strangers, and difown'd herChil- ' drcn born in Wedlock. Church- Anatomy^ the Dedication. ' Many who receive the Sacrament, live very ^ wicked Lives j fwear, and are drunk the fame ' Night. Plain Reafons for Diiffenting. p. 17. ' The Church of England teaches her Difciples, ^ that there is not one Soul goes to Hell that has the ' good Luck to have Chriftian Burial, p. 18. ' Many warm Church -men are more careful to ' avoid the Worfhip of the Diffeniers, than they are * to avoid the Sins ofMurdcr and Adultery, p. Z2. ' If MinillcTs preach poorly, and Miniflers and ' People generally live loofely, vainly and profanely, ' like Atheills ^ for our Souls fake wx fhould go * where there is better Preaching and Living. We ^ can fafely (peak it to God as well as to Men, this is * one great End of our Diffenting from the Church ' o^ England, p. 26. ^ Lr is plain that the Sin of Schifm lies at the ^ Church of England's Door. p. ip. ' A Sett of Men, by their intemperate Zeal for ' the Shell of Religion, beyond any Concern for . * the Subllance of it, and their rigorous Impofitioii * of an impiTi<5bicable Uniformity, haveoutflow^n ' the true Intention of the Church. We do not ^ voluntarily leave the Church, but are driven out. Plain Dealings the Preface. ' The Grievance is, not to let any officiate in / private 304 'The Danger of the ^ private Churches, without a Subfcription to the ' Articles. State Anatomy^ Part 1. p. 30. These arc the Charaflers, Worfliipful Sir, with which the Trotejiajit 'DiJJenters have ftig- matizdthc Church-Eftabliffimcnt o'i England ^ aiid the moft honourable Part of our Communi- on 5 with aDcfign not only to bring about a Re- volution among the Officers of State, and to make us infamous to the prefcnt Age, but to blafl: our Memory eternally, and deliver us down, with thefe odious Blcmiflics upon us,to Pofterity. To give you a Summary of thefe Reflcclions in a few Words : If we arc to believe thefe Gen- tlemen, the Church of England (that has not Power to touch a Hair of their Heads) is a cruel perfecuting Church 5 fhe is fchifmatical, impofes an impradicable Uniformity : She is a metapho- rical old Woman, a loofe Jade, a Scold and a Whore, and has the Common-Prayers efta- blifh'd, not for the Service of her Communion, but to encourage the Paper-Manufadure, and for the Benefit of the King s Bookfellcr. The greateftPart of her Members are Swearers, For- Iwearcrs, Drunkards, Whoremongers, Murder- ers, Adulterers, Sabbath-breakers, Atheiftsand Rebels : The Miniftry of the Government who receive the Sacrament at her Altars, are Hypo- crites, and in aftate of Damnation, Perfons of icandalous Lives and debauch'd Pradices, who bring the Hire of a Whore into the Houfe of the Lord, Behold the Charity and Moderation of the Troteftant T>ijTenters ! CHAP. Chtinh-RJlahlifloment^ 8cc. 305 CHAP. III. Reflections of the ProtcftantDiirentcrs///^;^ the Orthodox Clergy of the Church of England. ' ^ \^ H E S E Pricfts of Baal are many, and this JL ^ may be (Iiid of Ninety nine in a Hundred ' of them, andlamapt to think every one will find ' it true in his own Acquaintanee, that their Doc- * trine is not more pernieious to the Peace and Wel- ' fare of the Kingdom, than their Lives are a Scan- ' dal and Diigrace to their facred Fundion •, and I ' may venture to lay, there is fcarce one who has ' picach'd up the Danger of the Church, fincethe ' King's Accellion to the Throne, that has not been ' oftner drunk in a private Houfe, than fobcr in a ' Pulpit, ne Zeal of the Tories^ tcc. p. 8. * Let any one confider the Character of our Fa- ' t\\Qv Francis^ and find out in the Church o^ Rome ^ any Cardinal^ 7^7^^^ oi* Prieft^ that equals him ' in Ambition, Cruelty, and all Manner of Wick- ' ednefs : There are innumerable Heroes of this kind ' that are not to be matched in any other Church ' whatfoever. Ibid. p. 1 1 . ' All the Miferies the Nation feels or fears, are ' owing to the Lillrumentality of the Clergy, and ' to that religious Wildfire you have fcatter'd all the ' Nation over. Ibid. p. if. ' There are fomc CImrch-men that have Con- ' fciences like Oflriches Stomachs, that will di^ft ' Iron 3 for no Oath orTeil is too hard for their Caie- ' hardened Confciences, which can eafily difpenie ' with all, to ferve a Tmn.Reaforisfor an Union, p, 8. ' Dr. Firebrand of //^/^d?/rA7;, that wicked Priell ' and Incendiary, has compafs'd his chief Ends, the ' Loaves and Fiflics j and let his Church be in never ' fo much Danger now, he will be no Martyr for it, X ' or 30it> The Danger of the ' or hazard his fat Benefice for any Caufe, goocf or ' bad, except the Devil owes him a Shame, and ^ outwits him, and leaves him in the Lurch at laft. p. 14. ^ Theblack-mouth'dDodorofSt.^Wr^wV ' Holhoiirn. p. 2,7. ' There are too many fuch fort of Priefts, who ' truly endanger the Church and all the Proteilants * throughout Europe y you may know them by this ' Mark, they are generally the moft ignorant, lewd^ ' and debauch'd Part of the Clergy, and the Majo- * rity of their Followers and Difciples are the very ' Scum and Dregs of Manldnd. p. 17, 18. ' Dissenting Minifters would have thePrefer- ' ence to our loofe, high-flying, carelefs, lazy Cler- ' gy, except they keep a better Guard upon their ' Lives and Converfations than they ufually do now. j5. 18. '^ ^ What confounded and confounding Work ' the Priefts make about Excommunication and ' Schifmaticks ? p. if. ' The ignorant People are fo generally poyfon'd ^ by the high-flying Priefts, that the Government * fufFeij in many Places, j^. 31. ' People were not onlyrobb'd by the Priefts of ^ all their Religion or Charity, but or their Huma- * nity, turn'd into brute Beafts or worfe : Rare ^ Priefts, who pretend to be of the pureft Church ' in the World, that can transform Men into De- ' vils incarnate! />• 3<5. ' Nothing but the Pride, Ambition and Cove- ^ toufnefs of a certain Body of Reverends and their ^ Adherents, can ftand in the w^ay of a glorious Re- ^ formation. Chrifiianity no Creature of State, p. 4. ' I muft forbear, left I fliould ofl'cnd the reverend ' Pojje of my Country. — Whether this be owing * to their Folly, or Knavery, or both, I fubmit to^. ' Judgment, tho' 'tis eafy to determine to which, if ' you convcrfe with the Men and their Works If Church-Eft ahttjhment^ &c. -^tf * If our Clergy could but deviate into Honefty, then the fober Part of Mankind will have ReaTon to conclude, that they themfclves believe the Chriflian Religion to be true. />. 14. 'If the Prince fhould prefume to chufe his Ser- vants without the PrieiVs Leave, then they exert their Authority, and make difmal Lamentations about the Bufinefs of their Religion 5 when God knows, the whole of the Defign is nothing but State Intereft j hence it is that they have fir'd the ignorant Mob, fpirited 'cm into Riots and Rebel- lion, and perfuaded 'em, that to cut their innocent Neighbours Throats, is doing God good Service. In fhort, all the Blood that has been fpilt in the late unnatural Rebellion, maybcveryjufllylaidatthe Doors of the High-Church Clergy. /?. 16. ' It is but juft, that the Pai'fons Ihould be the common Subject of Banter, whilft their Pra6tice and Tongues fo much differ : They call it our ho- ly Religion, our holy Mother the Church, and yet conitantly pro llitute them. p. ip. ' The Parfons may rail themfelvcs out of Breath, no Body will mind 'em, confequently they'll be: tir'd, becaufe their ^i///;^^/^^ Eloquence will an-^ fwer no End. />. 14. ' The Prieft, who generally is as ignorant as the! People, is contented with the Knowledge of that Part of the Church which concerns himfelf, the recei^qng of his Dues, and the Government of his Parifh : This is not fingular to one or two, but general, fcarce one or two in a County has any other care for Religion. I do not enter into Proofs, 'tis as well known as that there arePrieils and Cu- rates > and yet thefe blind Teachers, by the Help of w^eak Arguments and ftrong 05lober^ have ftript Popery of all that was terrible about her, and re- concil'd the Minds of their Parifhioners to Super-* ftition and Idolatry, Fa^ioninPoiJuer. p. f. X ^ 'I could 3o8 The Danger of the ' I could wifli that the DilTenters were not de-- priv'd of their Birthrights, to humour a Parcel of proud illiterate Pricfts, who have generally Clo-^ lets without Books, Cures without Religion, and Zeal without Knowledge, f. 49. ' Among the inferior Clergy, Men arc found whofe Principles and Practices are a Scandal to the Church, and whofe Reformation, 'tis fear'd, mufl now be the Work, not of private, but of pubHck Jufticc. The Parfons are not only become the Subjc6]: of Satyr andjuft Sarcafm among, the Men of Wit, but even the Tale and Jelt of the com- mon People > their Winter-Evening and Fire-lide Ccnveriation are fill'd up with ridiculing and ex- pofing the Clergy > and the very Office grows in- to Contempt, by the fcandalous Conduct of fome of thofe earthen VefTels that officiate. Reafons for Vifiting the Univerfities. p. 4. ' The Church o^ England can never be reftor'd to her original Luflre, 'till the unexampled Wicked- nefs of a Sett of Men, who are difguis'd among, and wear the Habit of our Clergy, are purg'd out. t- 7: ' There are a fort of Men among the Clergy, who ought, and I hope will be purg'd out of the Church 3 I fay, I trufl they will alfo, becaufe their Iniquities feem to be come to the full Height, and to call aloud for that Vengeance, as well from the Civil Authority, as from Heaven. They feem now to have fill'd up the Meafure, and to have awaken'd Juflice againft them, which with its leaden Wings has been too flow in refenting the Infults it has receiv'd, and has forborn them ^o long, *till they begin to pcrfuade themfelves into a ridiculous Notion of their being formidable to the Government, and that they dare not, becaufe they do not, flrike. How long Hiall Juftice be with-held by the Royal Clemency to its own ^Hurt? Church-Eft ahliflomeyjt ^ Sec. 309 ' Hurt? How long fliall the King fparc thus the ' Vipers that would lling him ? p. iz. ^ They cannot but linccrcly wifh to fee that hor- ' rid Race of Men we are fpeaking of cxpung'd, ^ their Wolves Skins expos'd, their Sliephcrds' ' Cloathing pulVd over their Ears •, now that Time ' feems to be come -, Judgment is now going to be- ' gin at the Houfc of God. p. 1 4. ^' Vicious Clergymen are found effectually dif- * pers'd over the whole Face of this Church, and ' almoll in every Corner of the Nation, who fpread ^ Vice like a Contagion through the Country, and ^ dreadfully debauch the Morals of the People./?. 28. 'An excellent Defcription of the Proteftant ' Clergy! that not a Man among them but is per- ' jur'd over and over even in his very Education, in ^ the Infancy of his Learning, and before he knows ' either his Right Hand or his Left in the Matter of ' his Studies! p. 39. ' There is not a Clergyman now in England ' who has been educated at Oa/o;7/ or Cambridge^ or ' a Student now in any of our Univerfities, but ' what is actually guilty of premeditated Perjury. />. 40. ' Oaths are Trifles \vith them ; they are not to * be ty'd by the common Obhgations which bind ' Ch?-lftianS\ih]cd:s'y nay, the Bond that would fe- ' cure the Allegiance of a Mahometan^ will not ' bind them, p, 42. ^ The Obfervation extends to the whole Body of ' the Clergy throughout England^ where you will ' find the profane, the lewd, drunken, profligate ' Clergymen. />. 63. ' We fee what the ToryPrieflhood were made ' of in Queen Elizabeth's Time, that they were ' ignorant, lewd, and feditious j and it muft be fiid ' of 'em, that they are true to the Stuff flill. ^i?- ryifmthc "ujoyfl 'of the Troo. p. ii. X \ ' The 3IO The Dk^^qzv. of the ' The Salvation of Souls is not tlic Thing they ' aim at> our Church's Danger is no farther their. ' Care than as it is polfell of the Temporalities * handed down to her by our Popifh Ancellors. ' The Church and the gueen were Words the * Clergy were not only zealous for, but very often ' very drunk over, p- 2.^- ' Whatever Appearances they put on of ' Church and Church Things, their Bottom is foul ^ and rotten ^ and Pride, Avarice, Hatred, and Ma- ^ lice are the Biafs that turns them. p. zj. ' I cannot but think a great many of the Clergy ^ have loft their Reputation of late Years, in con- ' fining themfelvesfo much to the unedifying Subr, ^ jefts of Politicks and Schifm, qr in managing ' more important Subjeds in fo cold and lifelefs a ^ Manner as they have done, or in running fo much ^ from the Articles of the Church of England, A Letter to Dr. BifTe. /. 38. ' A Pack or Party of fcandalous, wicked, and pro- ^ fane Men, who appropriate to themfelves the * Name of High-Church, (but may more properly * be faid to bejefuitsor Papifts in Mafqueradc,) dp ^ take Liberty to teach, preach, and print publickly * and privately. Sedition, Contentions, and Divi^? f fions among the Proteftants of this Kingdom. Motives to Union, p. i . * With what Pleafure do the Clergy thunder out * their fevere Cenfures and bitter Imprecations a- ^ gainft their innocent Neighbours ? And did they ^ fcatter their Fire-brands, Arrows, and Death on- * ly when they were in Sport, and over their pro- * fane Cups, and in their merry Meetings, their Im-^ ^ piety would be far lefs than it is, when they at- ^ tempt to fan6lify their Mahce, by bringing it ^ into their Wormip, and venting it in the Name f of God himfeif. V^ixc€s Sermon^ Jan. 30. f.6, ' To' Chunh'EJlabltfhmentj Sec. 311 * To that noble Stand that was then made in the * Days of our Fore-fiithers (the Rebellion in ^i) we ^ are indebted, that we their Poilcrity arc not a Gc- ' neration of Slaves, to the Lulls o£ fucb a wious ^ fawning Clergy^ as then cany'd all before them. p. 14. * We have a fort of Proteftant Clergy in our own ^ Times, that are not to be bound by Oaths, and ^ much lefs by Promifes and Subfcriptions. Convo- cation-Craft . p. 40. ' There ajx feveral painful Preachers in this Ci- * ty, who are not doubted to underftand Flefh and * Blood well, and too frequently imprefs the Phrafes, ^ Our moft Holy^ or 7noft excellent Mother^ to leave * Perfons ignorant, of the Church of England" sht- * ing of the Feminine Gender. Church Anatomy^ the Dedication. ^ Nothing has more encouraged the Laity in * their Vices, or funk the Credit of our Clergy, than * the fcandalous Lives of fome of the Fun6tion. * 'Tis no Wonder that the Lives of flagitious Clcr- * gymen bring in more Profelytes to Wickednefs ' and Vice, than ever their Preaching will make * Votaries to Religion and Virtue. They may long ^ enough commend Virtue, and declaim againlt ^ Vice J but how fhould the People believe themy ' when they do not live as if they believ'd them- * felves ? And while fo many of our Clergy make no * great Scmple of Confcience to drink and whore, * and fwear and game, and droll on the Bible, and * profane the Sunday, and neglect the moll impor- * tant Duties of their paftoral Charge, 'tis no Won- * der if the Laity think themfelves authorifed to take * the fame Liberty, p. 44. ^ We cannot but commend the great Care of the ^ Church, in its Injunftions to the Deans, who mull * providently fee that the Petty-Canons and Vicai'S' * have '\ Latin "^ well as EngUjij Teilament: We X 4 ^ fuppofc 312 Tlje Danger nf the ' fuppofe this Caution was, left the kxy Fellows ^ fhoiild forget all they had Icarn'd at School 5 and * Greek^ it fcems, is as little expected from them, as ' Syriack and Arahkk. p. f i . *■ There are fevcral fecret Ways of purchaling * a Benefice, which fomc Patrons oblige the Cler- * gyto, without making a downright Bargain, and ' we would not have fo much as the courting of an * Abigail to be the Price of it. ^. f 4. ' The Behaviour of the Clergy is fo vile, 'twould ' be Indifcrction with a Witnefs, fhould we load * them with any Refleclions which they have not * defer\^M. V^ircc^ s Findic. of Dijf. Mtn.' p. 14. ^ If Loofenefs and Debauchery, Unthankfulnefs ^ to God and Man for the greateft Deliverances, the * fowing Strife and Contention, the ftirring up to * Sedition, Rapine and Sacrilege, the encouraging * Rebellion againfl the beft of Kings, and the pre- * varicating w^ith God and Man, in Subfcriptions, .' Prayers, and the moft plain, exprefs, and folemn * Oaths j if thefe are not Fruits bad enough to prove * Men falfe Prophets, I can't conceive what Ufc * our Saviour's Rule can be of That this Guilt is * notorious, cannot with any Modefty be deny'd. * Several B s, without any Scruple, drink ^ the Prete rider's Health. Two ^leftiom of prefent Importance, p. 8. * You have the Picture of the Clergy drawn to ^ the Life, and it w^ould even affright a Chriiliian to « behold it. Plain Reafons for Dijf. p. 7. ' O rare Hedors ! Are thofe the Men that lead ^ our Gentry, as well as the common People, by the * Nofe ? It would be the Nation's Mercy to have a *^ due Senfe of this Difeafe. p.i. * All have their Prayers made for them, and ma- * ny of them their Sermons too : Befure that God f difapproves of fuch a lazy Practice, p. p. ■ f I have Chunh'EJlahliJJjmentj &c. 313 ' I have heard Parfons drink the Dillcntcrs Dam- * nation, p. 3f. ' If a Patron prcfcnts a Perfon, and lie gets Infhi- * rution and Induction, let him be who or what * he will, fober or fcandalous, quaUfy'd or unqua- * lify'd Lay Noncon.JuftiffcL p. 7. ' As far as I can learn, a lh-i6ter Enquiry is made ' into Mens Qualifications for the Miniftry by the ' DilTentcrs, than by thofe who have ufually the * Mamigement of that Affair among you. p. 1 4. ' Until the Clergy have more Chrilfian Mode- * ration in their Tempers, and a more fpecdy Me- ' thod is found out to oblige fuch of them as walk * diforderly, to reform what is amifs in their Con- * verfations, our Parillies are not like to be better *' provided for. p. 20. ^ It's dubious whether the Ordainers have Pow- * er to confer the Spirit, as the ApolHes had 3 but if ' they have, it's pall doubt, that many of the Or- ' daiiVddon'rcarryitavv^ay with them. Plain Deal- irlg. p. 18. * The Clergy are remarkable for their Schifmatical *■ Diflept from the human Rules and Conllitutions * pf the Church, p. 27. ' Multitudes of the Clergy dilTcnt from the * EftabUfh'd Church in Principle, p. 2p. * Are fuch Men fit to wear the Liveiy of a Re- * form'd Church, or indeed of any Chriflian * Church? Even a Pagan, who has any Notion of ^ common Honelly, might be tempted to fay, ^re ' thefethyPrieJls^ Ohjefus! Find, of Plain Deal- ing. p. 3. •^ EIaxging-Sleeve Reader, p. 7. Confecrated * Scandal-Drivers, p.%. O rare Parfons, bungling * Trickllcrs. ^. 12. New-fledgVl Gown-men, Du- ' tiful Children to their Grannum the Ch h. p. 14. \ The Bulk of the King's Enemies confifts of in- * ferior 314 ^^ Danger of the ' ferior Clergy and inferior People, or a Mob of * Prieftsand Peafants. State Anat. Part I. p. 6. * Father ir^/^^j, the Ring-leader of our Pror * teftant Jefuits, and whom you properly ftile the * Convocation Boutefeu^ has no lefs afpiring Notions, * nor had he lefs dangerous Views, 'till blafled by the * Hanover Family's taking place, than old Laud * himfelf, or any other rampant High-Prieft ever en- * tertain'd. p. 3f. ' Parsons turn Captain Tom's atEleftions, per- ^ feft He6tors and Bullies, no Rakes more warmly * promoting feditious Healths in full Bumpers than ' they. p. 37. ' A Reformation of Univerfities and Pulpits is * no lefs expefted from the ParHament. p. 40. * That trufty bully-beef Priell i7/^/;/i-. p. f i. * The Archbifhop of J g^ much better ac- * quainted with the Mothers than the Fathers p. fz, * This Opinion is kept alive in the Minds of a * vicious Mob, by feditious and hcentious Priefts. f,6z. * A Parcel of perjur'd Shepherds, fet their filly * Sheep a madding, by their leud Harangues, p. 66. * Nothing is more fcandaloullynegle6ted, than ^ a ftrift Examination into the AbiHties of Candid * dates for the Miniftry. p- JJ- Be aftonifli'd, O ye Heavens, at this ! The ferfecuting Heathen muft rife up in Judgment with the Men of this Generation, and condemn them 5 for they dreft up our Primitive Fathers in the Skins of Beafts only, but here we their Succeffors are cloath'd in the Attire of ©m/i". Never was there a Char after drawn of the mod villainous Profeffion of Men under the Sun, in Colours Church'Eflahlifhment^ &c. 3 1 f ^ -Colours fo dark and horrid, as thefc wherein the charitable 'Froteftant T)iJ] enters cxpofe the Clergy of the Church oiE'ngland \ and if there fould be Evidence produc'd to '^y^ the Icaft Part of this Charge upon them, it would be meri- torious to rid the Earth of fuch Plagues as are a Reproach not only to the Religion they profefs, but to the Species they are diftinguifli'd by. But alas, inftcadofaDemonftration of thcEacls, they play upon us from thefe Batteries of Scan- dal, and draw out their Artillery againft us, with a Defign, moft certainly, to mark us out to the Fury and Refentments of the Mob, and the Rage of the Soldiery, to be infuited, ftript, and worried. If there be not fome Relief found to flop the Mouths of fuch wicked Incendiaries, it muft in a little time beunfafefora Clergyman to appear abroad at Noon-day, without a Guard of the Militia to defend his Perfon from the Madnefs of the Populace, who are already moft artfully encourag'd upon all Occafions to infult his Character. I am confident, WorlhipfuhSir, thefe Maga- zines oi Sedition never yet fell into the Hands of the Honourable Grand Jury for the Hundred oiOJJtdJion ; becaufe they would have been long before nov/ diftinguifli'd by the fevereft Juftice, which could not bear to obferve the whole Bo- dy of the £;/^///& Clergy traduc'd in fo infamous a Manner, a Manner much more infamous than was ever us'd by the Scourge tovv^ards the Miniftry o^ Scotland. But inftead of triumph- ing in thefe Rcprifals of mine upon the Trotef- . tant ^i6 The Danger of the tant T>i(fentersy belic^'e me, Sir, it is to me a Matter of the grcatefl: Sorrow, left I fhould be thought to copy after fo infamous an Example; tho' in this I muft be allow'd to fall fhort of the Original, who cry out for Juftice and Slaughter upon the Englijh Priefthood, under the very Nofe, and within the Reach o^ EpifcopalDi^- cipline ; whereas my Libel wtls planted at a great Diftance, and, if it had any Force, muft ftill be confefs'd to ftand without the Rules of the Tref- bytery, ^ ^^. ^h r^ •% ^^' ^^ ^- .?f> c*. .t- ^?. .^S • .*:^ ^^ .?f-. ,t-. .^:, rf3 r*. ^. ^, >^ CHAP. IV. Reflexions of the Protcftant DifTenters upon the Difcipline ^^/^ /-^^ Canons, Articles ^;^^ Ceremonies of the Church of England. ' X F any of thefe fpiritual Princes, the Clergy, J^ ' happen to quarrel with their Neighbours, ' it may be, for nothing but becaufe they cannot ex- ' aciily quadrate with their Principles, ftrait they ' have them into their Inqiiifition : This is the moft * horrid Hypocrify imaginable, and a downright ' giving the Lie to the Ne-w Teftaraent. Chrijliani-. ty no State Creature, p. 17. ' The fpiritual Courts are pofieft of their old ' Thunders, and arm'd with new ones, Occafional, ' and Schifmatical j their Excommunications, not ^ paying Tythes, for Scolding, for not paying ' Church-Rates, and Poor-Ratcs, are ftill in full ' Force j and whoever is acquainted with tbePro- ' cefles of thofe Courts, knows that Tythes, and ' calling Names, and Pariih-Rates, bring much * more Grift to their Mills, than Immorality and ' Pro- Church-Efiablijhmentj Sic. 317 ^ Profanenefs. Now that the Thunder of the ' Vatican is become almolt impotent, are our ' High-Church Pricils preaching LefTons of the ' Power of their Excommunications. Eveiy ht- ' tie Vicar or Curate puts in his Claim to his ' Prerogative > and how vexatious it is in the ' Country Places, where twenty or thirty Families ' are to be maintain'd by the Fees of them, I need ' not repeat. T'oryifm theworft of the Two. p. Zf. ' Th e Reafon why you are given to Satan, is, be- ' caufe you will not give yourfekes to him, and ' therefore others are lb zealous as to do it for you'. V>Y:\(\h\\xfsScrm. on the phofNoy. p, ip. ' What a fmutty Story is that in the (^th, 7th, ' and 8'th Chapters of 76*^//, appointed for LelFons, ' which is enough to make a Man laugh 'till h6 ' burll. Church- A nati/tny. p. p. ^ Vi^E could willi the ic\'ere Claufes in the Atha" ^ nafianQx^tdi^'QXQ, expung'd j for we think it no ' more becomes us to damn F'olks in the Church, ' than in the Streets. />. f . ' The fcandalous Abufes of Excommunication, ' in thefe latter Days, have made it fo contemptible, ' that Sinners do no more valueit thanMendo the ' threatning Predictions of a common Almanack- ' maker concerning Thunder and Lightning. />. 2.1. 'Tis a greater Piece of Sacrilege for thefe Thieves^ ' Chancellors, Officials, 13 c. to Ileal and run away ' with the Keys of the Church, than for any to ' carry off the Communion Plate, p. zf. ' Thus the Rooks give check to the King, ' and the Lay-Chancellor in the Court proves too ' hard for the Bifhop, as tlie Devil in the Sign of a ' Tavern doth for St. D/infla/f. p. 17. ' Unlels at his own Peril,, the Pariih Miniftcr mufi ' no more examine the Equity of the Scntejicc^ than ^ a Hangman docs, but mult do his Office > hcmiifl give ^i8 Hoe Danger of the * give Fire when the Word of Command is given., * JLiil as the two nimble iron Sparks on the Out- * fide of St. Dunftan's Church, when mov'd by th6 * Wyres within, brifkly turn about, and give a * Thump on the Bell, that all may know what * Quarter of the Hour it is. p. zp. ' In David's Time the Sparrows wereallow'd a * Place near God's Altar > in our Days whole Herds * of S-wine have the fame Priv ilege, and no one wiH * or dare drive them out. But if a Man trip in a * Ceremony, out comes the facred two-edg'd * Sword immediately, and they are cut off byDo- * zens, W e have known a wxll-meaning, but ftub- * born Fanatick, fent to the Devil for an Eaftev" ^ Offering, becaufe he would not give his Parfon * One and Two-pence half-peny. p. 30. ^ If any one do not obey the Decree, then there * is Death in the Pot, and they have no other way * to punilh but by Excommunication. />. 31. ' * If you will not buckle, out comes the two- * handled Rod and bloody Pail, to flight the fhib- * born Children into Obedience, p. 34. * We do not fee one in twenty of our unclean * leprous Priefls, whofe notorious Vices make too * publick a Noife to be unobfeiT'd, was ever Ex- * communicated, p. 47. ' Instead ofimpofingfuitable Penance, Money * fhall be extorted by a Body of Men, who have * ■ already fhew'd us, that they can fet Indulgences * to fale •, and that they are willing Men fhould ruin * their own Souls, and go very quickly to Hell, pro- * vided they will pay them "toll for their PaiTages. p, fd. * All the Difcipline the Church of England has, * feems to be more to get Money, than to bring * Sinners to Repentance. Plain Reafons for Dij- fenting. p. 2,0. * Great Sins are never enquired into, as the ' Parfon Church- EfiabhfJomenty Sec. 319^ * Parfon or Curate's being drunk two or three times * a Week, or fwearing at eveiy other Sentence. />. 21. * Some of the beft Minifters in the Church have * confcfs'd, that after forty Years preaching in their * Parilli, they knew not of one Soul converted in * all that time, p- 2.f. * The Singing-Men and Boys in Cathedrals, as * foon as they have done jibing there, are alfo * Adors in the Play-houfes. f. 34. * Forms feem to have been introduced in a time ' of Degeneracy, when Mens Devotion was lan- ^ guilhing, and Minifters, either becaufe of theil' * Ignorance or IndifFerency, were not capable of ' making Prayers of their own. Lay Nonconform mity juftify'd. p. 22. * After a great deal of Money and Time have * been fpent in profecuting an Offender, it is but for * him to fay he repents, and pay his Fees, and he * comes home. j^. 38. ' The Canons that will be mounted againft me, * I efteem as Powder without Ball. 'The Pourtralc^ tare of King James I. and King Charles I. ' \Vhat can a Man of Senfe believe, when he * fliall fee a Prieftatthe Altar afting an Holy Part, * bowing and cringing, approaching the Bread and * Wine, as tho' the Popilli Notion of Tranfubilan- ' tiation was true ? Chriftianity no State Creature. p. 13. ^ 'Tis an Invafionupon the Rights of Mankind, * to be dctermin'd by the Canons of the Church, ' until they be ratify'd by Parliament. Convocation Craft, p. f8. ' We can forefee no better Apology for the Con-' * vocation that fram'd thefe Canons, than this, that * they feem only to have defign'd them for the old * rulfy Armour of our Church, to hang up for Ter- ! ror, rather than to be us'd for Execution j and ;. . { therefore 320 Tlw Dakgek of the * therefore were we of the Laity worthy to offer * our Advice to a Convocation, we ihould reconi- * mend it to them to caihier thcfe ill-natur'd Canons, ' for they are a Handing Reproach to our Church. Church jinat. p. 16. * If the Convocation think fit to keep up thele * Canons Hill, it were very great Charity to clap * Padlocks on the Tongues of the People, to prc- * vent their running into the Devil's Clutches, by * prating too freely againft the Orders of our * Church, p. 20. ' Where-ever you find an ignorant Bigot, ob- ' ferve him at Church, fee how zealous he is in the * Outfides of Devotion, watch how he faces to the * Eall when he f lys the Creed, how he dillinguifhes * himfelf by the lowell Obeyfance at the Word Je- ' fus^ what a Scrape he has for the Altar as he pafles * by it, how loud in the Refponfes, which how- * ever he repeats like a Parrot. Toryifm the worft of the Two, p. 8. ' Kneeling at the Sacrament was never known ' 'till the Papacy of Honorius. The Surphce was * brought into the Chiu'ch by Pope Adrian j and * this Badge of that barbarous K^t was borrowed ' * from the Pagan Priellhood > yet fome of our infe- * rior illiterate Clergy, to colour the Filthinefs of ' their Morals, affect mightily this Purity of Habit. * Their bowing at the Altar is an Innovation of ^ the T?^;;^///; Church. /?. p. ' The Church-Mufick of thePapifts is certainly ^ veiy efficacious in moving the Pafiions : But fuch, ' * for the Generality, are our Organs and Organills, * our Church-Mufick and Muficians, that the * Noife ftrikes Horror, inftead of inflaming Zeal. * The Tones of the Inllruments, the Infufficiency * of the Performers, and the Tell of the Singers^ are * enough to deafen a delicate Ear, and frighten a « Perfon of good Judgment. />. 8. * Their Church- Eft abltjhmenty 8cc. 321 ' Their Obfervation of Fcllivals, and in a par- ' ticular Manner the 50th o£ January^ is as fuper- ' flitious as the Obfervation of Popifli Feafts : The ' Church of England compHes with thefc Things ' for Peace (ake. p. 11. ' Shall we fall out about Ceremonies, about * Poftures and Geftures, about Hat and Knee, about ' Garbs and Garments, about Modes and Falhions, ' and Things which are very far from the Heart ? Motives to Union, p. 18. ' To talk of Mitres, and Priefls, and Sacrifices, ' and Altars, and Holy Days, and New Moons, was ' right enough in the J^u'/yZ? Difpcnfation j but to * continue the Language now, is a pra6tical Sufpi- ^ cion that this is not the Chrill. Bradbury V Serm, Nov. f. p. 14. 'We have a long while been clouded by Con-* * fufions in the Church, by a loofe Prielthood, ' who have not only brought in an innumerable ' Number of Pagan Rites, and Jeijuijh Ceremonies^ * but by their helliili Skill have juft broke through ' our Conftitution, and almoft reduc'd her to the ' Obedience of i?^;;?^. ^he ReheVsDoom. p. 41. ' All that the Committee and others havd * wrote and faid againft the Bifhop of Bangor^ ' is but a Confirmation of what he has advanc'd * againft the Encroachments of a certain Sett of ' Prierts. A Second Letter to Dr,Vi\^Q, />• 17. ' The Report of the Committee is becorne an * officious Libel, to fiy no worfe of it, thrown * into the World as a Bone of Strife, f irther to em- * broil Mankind. The Report Reported, p. 8. ' What is faid, will fufficiently fhew how emp- ' ty and trifling, as well as unjull and injurious, this * Proceeding ofthe Lower Houfe hath been. ^. 38. ' I am glad when I fee Men feek to govern ' their Faith and Praft ice, not by the great Names ' of Men, Churches, Councils, Convocations, ot Y ' Affem- 312 The Danger of the # ' Aflemblies s I rejoice to fee the Foui^ations Yha* ^ ken, and the Fabrick linking^ as wc never doubted ' but it would fomc time or other. PeirceV Letter to Z)r. Siiape. f. ip, 20. ' They may call themfelves the true Church as ' long as they pleafe, and value the Method they ' are in from its Correfpondence with Antiquity > ' but Cain^ Balaam^ and Corah are the Fathers from ' whom they deduce their Character. Indeed, their ' Way and Notions have been of a long (landing, * but they are never the more venerable for that, ^ we have no Ellecm for an ancient Wickednefs. ' They may carry their Pedigree higher than the ' firft Centuries of Chriflianity, they are as early ' as the firft Century of the World, and the firlt ' of the Je-wijh Nation, for they have gone in the ' Way of Cain^ they ran greedily after the Error of ' Balaam for a Reward, and perilVd in the Gain- ' iixying of Corah, BradbuiyV Serm. on the ph of Nov. p. p. ' Can we think that Religion is now put in- ' to the Hands of Men? Had Men carry'd their * Authority no Eirther than recommending the Gof* ' pel in its SimpHcity, unexplain'd and unimprov'd, ' we fhould not have groan'd under the Weight ^ of Penal Laws. — He is a Heretick that contrives ^ a new Article of Faith, he is a Schifmatick that ' impofes new Terms of Communion. Thus they '- have gone in the Way of Cain^ firft enteitaining ^ Fancies of their own, and then impofing them up* ^ on others > as if the Decency and Order of God's ^ Worfhip had no better Rules, than what muft ^ be taken from the Conceits of aw^himficalPrieft., />. 12, 13. ' No Difturbance upon the Account of Religioa ' has been fo unnatural, as that of late caus'd by the ^ inferior Clergy, in their Refleftions and Lies upon ^ thQ Reverend Bij[bops! of the; ChiU'ch of £;^^/^^/^: 'ThefQ Church-Rftahltflonient^ Sec. 323 * Thefe Men glory in their being Members of the * High-Church, (Popifli Appellation, and thcre- ^ fore they are the more fond of thatj) but ' thefe pretended Sons arc become her Peifecutors, ' and they exercifc their Spite and Lies both on the ' Living and the Dead, 'fbe Snake in the Grafs brought to Light, p. 8. ' There can be no doubt that thegreateft Num- ' bers mfome Eccleftajiical Jjffemhlies^ inftead of * ferving the Interell of Truth, have had fomething ' elfe principally in View. T'he Duty of Chriftians ivith refpetl to Human Interpretation , p.p. ' I havemadeafhort Inquifition into the Power ' of our prefent Convocations, which may be of ' ufe to inform the People how illegally that Party, ' which aiTogated to itfelf the Title of the only ' tme Churchmen, hiis acted in the Cafe of the 'Lord Bilhop of Bangor. Convocation Crafty Preface. ' We may fee how clofely our prefent High-flyers ' purfue the Steps of their Popifh Predeceffors, in ' reckoning thole who difpute the ufurp'd Power ' of the Church to be Hereticks, Schifmaticks, or * what elfe they plcafe. p. 30. ' The Report of the Committee is publifh'd in * a veiy infolent Manner, and that it may bear the ' greater Authority, and have more Effc6l to in- * name the Minds of the Populace, who are too ' much debauch'd already from their Loyalty, by ' the feditious Arts of the High-Church Fa&ion, ' it is publifh'd as the Vote of the Lower Houfe, * Nemine Contradicente. This gives too much ' Ground to fufpe61:, that the Publilhers at lead did ' this with a feditious View, to pofTefs the Nation * with an Opinion that the Church is in Danger * to be overturned by his Majesty, fince theSer- * mon was publiih'd by his Majefty's fpecial Com- * maud. p. 34, Y ^ ' Gen- I 314 7"^^ Danger of the ' Gentlemen of the late Committee of Conva- * cation, you are fully expos'd to the Eye of the * World, and^ I cannot but lament your bufying ' your felves in an Affair which has tunVd fo much * to your Dillionour One or other of you might * have found out fome Beauty-JVajh to have covered ' ' thefe Decays which are fo evident in the Conftitu- ' tion of our holy Mother. Church Anatomy^ the Dedication. My Remarks, Worfiiipful Sir, upon this in- flaming Mifcellany of Scandal you have juft now read, will be only to obfcrvc, that the very fame Methods are taken by the Trotefl:ant T^if- fenters af this time, to fiibvert the Eftablifli- ment, as were us'd with Succefs by their Re- forming Anceftors, who introduc d a new Mo- del of Government upon her Ruins, with this Difference only, that their hopeful Tofl:eritfi in this Age, outftrip, if pofliblc, the Impti' denceol their Forefathers, And here I beg leave to complain, That the Church of England, notwithftanding the Pro- tedion flic enjoys from publick Authority, has the Misfortune to be left dcftitute andunregard- •ed under thefe Volleys of Reproaches 5 and lies now more forfaken by thofe who pretend to be her Friends, than fhe did in thofe Times of Con- fufion, when her Overthrow was abfolutely de- tcrmin'd : What I mean, is (and I fpeak it with- out Refledion) that not one of her Sons at- tempts to apply to the higher Towers to relieve her in her Sufferings, or to prevent the fatal Im- prcflions that Libels muft unavoidably fix upon the Church'EftabhJhment^ 8c c. 31^ the Minds of the People : Her Enemies difperlc tiieir Poyfon with Impunity, and infnfe the Ma- lignity of their Principles without Controul 5 not one Magiftrate, not one Grand Jury, not one Borough or County in Englandy has mov'd for a Redrefs againft thefe open Violations of fo many Ads of Parliament, againft fuch daring Outrages upon our Laws both Ecclcfiaftical and Civil. In that Age q^ Rebellion ^ when the T^iffen- ters were (as they are now) infeding the whole Nation with thdr Licentious Dodrincs, and re- viling the Conftitution of the Churchy there was fcarcc a County in the Kingdom but whofe Nobility, Clergy, Gentry, and Freeholders, prefented the infulting and fcandalous Deport- ment of the Party, in Addrefles to the Tarlia- ment 5 and there is one Petition from the Cotm- ty Palatine of Chefier, which is fo appofite to the Circumftances of the prefent Age, that I humbly offer it as a Pattern to our noble Patri- ots, to infpire them with that dutiful Zeal that glow'd fo warmly in the Bofom of their Proge- nitors, when the Honour of the Church oiEng- landl^y bleeding of the fame Wounds by which her Enemies would now rejoice to fee her ex- piring. Y ! AVctl ^i6 The Danger of the A Petition deliver' d in to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, by Sir Thomas Afton Baro- net^ from the County Palatine of Chefter, fubfcril/d by the Nobility , Knight Sy Minify tersj Gentry y and Freeholders, &c. < TTTHEREAS divers Petitions have been VV ^ lately carry 'd about this County, * againft the preient Form of Church Govern- ' menty and the Hands of many Perfons of or- * dinar y ^lality foiicited to the fame, with ' Pretence to be prefented to this honourable * Affembly*, which we conceiving not fo much * to aim at Reformation, as abfolute Innova- ^ tion of Government, and fuch as muftgivea ' great Advantage to the Advetfaries of our ' Religion, we held it our Duty to difavow * them all. * When we confider, thzt Bijhops^jcro, m- ' ftituted in the time of the Apoftles j that they < werethegreatLightsof the Church in all the > f[i^ general Councils ; that fo many of them * fow'd the Seeds of Religion in their Bloods, f and refcud Chriftianity from utter Extirpa- * tion in the primitive Heathen Terfectitions ; * that to them we owe the Redemption of the * Tttrity of the Gofpel we now profefs, from * Romifh Corruption ; that many of them, for * the Propagation of the Truth, became fuch * glorious Martyrs 5 that divers of them lately, * and yet living with us, have been fo great Af- * fertors of our Religion, againft its common ' Enemy Church-EJlabl'tfkmentj Sec. 327 Enemy of RomCy and that their Government hath been fo long and oft approv'd by the Common and Statute Law of this Kingdom, and as yet nothing in their Doclrine generally taught, diftant from the /^r^^Gf?^, or the Articles XiZxX'vj'di by La^-^i In this Cafe, to call their Government a Vaffaloge^ an intole- rable Bondage^ to pray the prefent Removal of them, or, as in fome of their Petitions, to feek the utter Ruin and DifTolution of their Offices, as Ayiti-chriftian^ we cmnot con- ceive to rehfli of Juftice or Charity, nor can we join with them. ' But on' the contrary, wheii we confider the Tenor oi fttch Writings as arc fpread a- mongthe common Teople^ the Tenets preach'd publickly in TulpitSy and the Contents of many printed Tamphlets fwarming among us, all of them dangeroufly exciting T>ifobe^ dience to the efiahltJlodFoYm of Governmenty and their feveral hitimations of their 'Defire ofxhz Keys, and that their Congregations may execute Ecclefiajlical Cenfures within themfelvesj we cannot but exprefs oar Jujl Fears, that their Defire is to introduce an A^ folute Innovation of Tresbyterial Govern- ment^ whereby we, who a*e now govern'd by the Canon and Civil Laws difpers'd by twenty-fix Ordinaries, eafily refponfal to Par- liaments for any Deviation from the Rule of Law, conceive wc fhould become exposed to the mere Arbitrary Governmnt of a nume- rous presbytery, who; togethei^ with their Y 4 ' ruling 3x8 Tl^e Danger of the ^ ruling Elder Sy will arife to near four Thau- ' fand Church Govcrnours, niuft. needs bear fo / great a Sway m the Commonwealth, that if * future Inconveniencies fliall be found in that * Government, we humbly offer to Confide- * ration, how thefe (hall be reducible by Tarlia- * mentSy how confident with a Monarchy-, and * how dangeroufly conducible to an Anarchy ^ ' which we have juft Caufe to pray againft, as *■ fearing the Confequences would prove the *■ utter lofs of Learning and LawSj which ^ muft neccflarily produce an Extermination of * Nobility y Gentry, and Order y if not of Re^ ^ ligion, *- With what Vehemency of Sprit thefe "^-Things are profecuted, and how plaujibly ' inch popular Infujions fy]:c2Ldj as incline to a ^ Party, we held it our Duty to reprefent tp * this Honourable AJfembly, and humbly pray, *■ that fome fuch prefent Courfe may be taken ' as in your ^f^(9;5>^fhall be thought fit, to fup- * prefs t\\z future difperjtng of fuch dangerous * "Difcontents among the common People : * We having great Caufe to fear, that of all the ' ^ijlempers that at prefent threaten the WeU * fare of the State-, there is none more worthy * the mature and grave Confidcration of this ' Honourable Affembly, than to ftop the Torrent * oi fuch Spirits, before they fwcll beyond the * Bounds of Government, Then we doubt * not but his Majefty, perfevering in his graci- * ous Inclination to hear the Complaints, and rcr * lievc the Grievances of his Subjefts in frequent • * Parlicv* Church-Eft abltffjment J dec. 31^ Parliaments, it will fo unite the Head and Body, fo indiflblubiy cement the Affe^ions of his People to our Royal Sovereign^ that without any other Change of Governrnmty He can never want Revenue^, nor we Juf- tice. "■ IV E have prefunid to annex a Copy of a Petition or Libel differs d in this County^ "■ji'hich i2;e conceive implies Matter of dange- rous Confequencc to the Peace of the Church and State, ^ujhich we humbly fuhnit to your great Judgments, praying it may be read: And we pall ever pray. The Petition which was fpread abroad in the County ofChefter^ among the common Teo- pky by ^o\x\zprivate^erfonsy to procure Hand^, but was conceal' dixoiw the Gentry ^ Shewethy *■ ^T^HAT our Miferies are fuchasarcEc- Jl^ ^ clefiaftical, and that in regard of the ^ nfiirping Prelates, their lawlefs dependent ^ Officers, and their irregular manner of wor- * fliiping God, prefcrib'd unto, and cruelly im- ' posd\x^oxi us by them; for as touching the ' Prelates themfelves, we conceive them to *• be the Tope's Stibftitutes, per Accidens at *■ the leaf-, if not byfolemn covenanted Allegi- *- ance, as it may appear by their lording it ^ over the Lords Heritage, both Pallors and * People, and afluming the Tower of the Keys ' only 33^ TToe Danger of the * only to themfelvesy contrary to God's facred ' Word. * Therefore we humbly petition you, this * Honour able Ajfeynbly^ as you tender the Gio- * ry of God, the King's Prerogative, the Sub- ' jefts Liberty, the Purity of God's facred Or- * dinances, and the Welfare of Pofterity, or ^ wifh the Downfal oi Aritichrift and his^^- * herentSy to ftir up the Zeal and Strength * wherewith the Lord hath endu'd you, and * courageoufly proceed, unto your immortal ^ Praife, againft thefe his mighty Enemies ^ and * fecret Underminers of the good Eftate of our * Church and Commonwealth, and utterly * dijfolve their Offices^ which give Life to the * moll fiiperftitious Vra6iices in the Worfhip * of God ; and fo, together with the utter Ruin ' of their Antichriftian Offices and Govern- * ment^ we alfo humbly pray may fall to the * Ground their impious Courts^ with all their * dependent Officers^ even from the Chancel- * lors to the ParatorSy their corrupt CanonSy * Book of Articles, the Englifh refirld Mafs- * Book of Common-Vrayery with all their To^ * pijh iniignificant Ceremonies therein contained 5 ' the ftri5i impojing whereof, hath driven out * of this our Englijh Nation many of our moft * able and Godly Minifters, and other his Ma- * jefty's moft Loyal Subjeds, able both for Per- * fon and Eftate to have done Service to Gody \ our Kingy and Country, This Chtinh'EJlahliJhmenty 8cc. 331 This Likl is fo cxad a Tranfcript oiT> iffent^ ing ZeaU that I have no Occafion to proceed any farther with my Obfcrvations upon this Sub- ject. CHAP. V. Reflexions of the Proteftant Diflcntcrs upon the Univerjities of Oxford and Cambridge. ^ fT""! H E Clergy of the Church of England nt^jtr X ^ ihew'd themfelves in fo fair a point of ' View as lately, when a Seminary of Learning and ' Religion was tum'd into an Jfylum for Rebels ' and Traytors, and when a Gang of the moft vile ^ and profligate Papifts were conceal'd andproteft- ' td^it Oxford; and I muft fay this to the Honour ^ of that Foundation of Learning, that it feems to ' have laid aiide the Sin of Hypocrify, for now the * whole Study and Labour of too many of its Mem- ' bers, are ope?ily employed to promote Popery and ^ Rebellion j nay, fuch is their Zeal for fo glorious ^ a Caufc, that they feem defirous to fuffer for it -y ' and therefore I heartily wifh that thofe who ' have it in their Power, will be fo good as to gra- ' tify them in that Particular. Zeal of the "tones, p. 12. ' No young Pedant or Botitefeau that came reek- ^ ing from either of the Univerfities, but asfoon as ' he mounted the Pulpit, all his little Stock of Elo- ' quence, and Icfs of Divinity, was laid out in ly- ' ing againil the DifTenters. Reafons for an Union. ■■ * Tis 33?' The Danger of the ' 'Tis a pretty thing, for a young Fellow that * has been perhaps a SeiTitor jn a College, juft come ' from running of Errands, to be all at once^nadc ^ a Spiritual Prince. This Conceit makes the poor ^ young Fellow ftrut, and look haughty, contemn * the Laity, and treat all Mankind in fuch an inhur * man Way, as none could do but a petulant Prieft. Chriftianity no State Creature, p. i(5. ' These furious Blades of the Univerfities, when * they come to Country Corporations, have the ' Diredtion of the Magiftrates Confciences, are ' their Confeflbrs and Companions, and breathe ' into them their Academical Heat and Pailion, * which breaks out into Fadion and Difioyalty : . * Wherefore 'tis plain, if any Places ought to be vi- ' fited, the Work fhould be begun at Oxford and ^ Cambridge. Fa6iion in Power, p. f4. ' One would think that the pe^t Sophifts that * are fent from thence on Tory Millions, were ra- * ther poflefs'd than infpir'd j and that inftead of * a Genius, they were each afted by a D^mon. p.f6. * The great Original of the Immorality and * fcandalous Lives of thofe Wretches who call ' themfelves at this time the Clergy, is the prefent * degenerate State of the Univerfities where they ' are bred, and where they imbibe Principles of * Levity and Profanenefs, inftead of Piety and ^ Learning. Reafons for viftting the TJniverftties, p. 7. * What Wonder will it be thap the inferior ^ Clergy arc debauch'd in Morals, dilloyal in Poli- * ticks, heretical in Principles, profane in Conver- * fation when we ihall trace them back to their Eru- ^ dition, and find that they were bred up in all thefe * at the Colleges, where they fuck in Vice inftead * of Virtue, profligate Manners inftead of Modefty * and Sobriety, and Profanenefs inftead of Piety ? ' Thero Chufch-EJlabliJhment^ Sec. j j 3 * There they lenm'd to trifle v/ithOaths, fwallow * them' carelcfly, obfci-ve them negligently, and ' conffa'ue them jefuitically. />. if. ' The Diligence of the inferior and dignify'd ' Clergy in debauching the Minds and Morals of < the Country, the Encoumgemait they gi\'e by ^ their wicked Examples to all manner of Vice and ^ Immorality > whence are we to derive this, but ' from the Pra6tice of our Univerfities, that are ^ now become Schools of Debauchery, and Har- * bourersofall forts of Vice? The Heads of Houfes, ' Pro^lors, Vice-chancellors, ^c. are too vifible ' Men not of like Paflions only, but of like Vices ' with other Men. p. ij. ' The Tutors are in many Colleges negligent of ' the Morals of their Pupils, nay, rather Promoters ' than Reftrainers of their Vices, and only careful ' to inftildifloyal Principles into them. p. 24. ' Under fuch Tutors the Youth have grown up ' to a Degree of V/ickednels pail: Recovery i from ' hence we fee a dreddfui Defection of Morals, * even in every Corner of the Nation, among thofe ^ who ferve at the Altar, and adminifcer in Holy ' Things, to the abominable Scandal of the whole ' Body, and to the Increafc of Vice and Profane-' ' nefs. p. 2f, 26. ' Do we not every Day fee that young Gentle- ' men come fi'om the Univerfities, honoured with ^ the uli.ial Degrees, furnifh'd with holy Orders \ * but as to their Heads and Hearts empty of Lite- * rature, void of ferious Religion, or of any thing ^ gravely inclined to the Search aftei* it j rather fi- ' nifh'd in a Capacity of being fuperlatively wicked, ' than furnifh'd with Principles of Virtue, or inur'd * to a modell and religious Life ? Do we not fee * them run out to all kinds of Liberties, andlegiti- * mating to othei*s, by their wicked Example, the * Pra6tice of thofe things of which they ought to ' ihew 334 ^^ Danger of the ^ fliew an Abhorrence ? We fee them perfefliecj in ' vicious Practices by a long Scries of Liberty, and ^ only a6ting and behaving abroad what they were ' naturahz'd to before, by the conflant Ufage of the ' Univerfities, and the utter Neghgence ot Tutors ' and Governors. ^.2,8. ^ The IftiprelHons which the ill Government of * the Univerhties permits an early Habit of Wick- ' ednels to make in the Minds of the Students, is the ' Reafon of propagating the like Vices, and living ' in the hke wicked Pra6ticcs in the feverai Pariihcs * where the Students happen to fettle, p. 30. ' Such of the Clergy who daily ifTue out of the * Schools, and are planted as Opportunity and their * private Interelb guide them, are as fo many Miffi- ^ onaries fent abroad to plant Jacohitifm and Dijloy^ ' alty through the Kingdom. Oxford and CafU- ^ bridge^ inftead of being Seminaries of Learning and * Piety, are really Nuricries of RebeUion and Trea- * fon, Difobedicnce and dangerous Pra6tices. />. 3^. ' It is evident, that the Univerfities at this time * are over-run with Fa61:ion and Principles of Rebel- ' lion, and that the Enemies of the Government re- ^ ceive Encouragement from thence, to carry on and ^ fupport the fame Difaffe6lion in other Parts of the ' Nation. />. 43. ' Thus theUniverfities, thofe Nefls or Cages of ' unclean Birds, would be efFe6luallycleans'd./). 6*4* 'The Streams of a neighbouring Univerfity ' have run fo foul, and corrupted our Youth to Po- * pery, that our gracious Sovereign Avasforc'd to be ^ at the Expence of Part of an Army to cohabit there ^ for fome time to quiet thofe gracelefs Babes. The Snake in the Grafs brought to- Light, p. 21. ' W H AT a blelTed and happy Nation had we been * by this time, if the Learning and Eloquence of * our Univerfities and Clergy had been employed in * promoting true Piety, inftead of Perfecution, and > the Chnrch-Rjlahl'ifhment^ 8cc. -33^ * the private Intcrell of Pricib, under the Name ' of the Church! M'lWcv' s Account j^c. p. 196. ' A proud, popifh, fierce, and unfociable Sni- * rit, aSpiritofNarrownefs, Party-Cenfoi'ioufnefs * and Bigottry, has prevailed in Oxford ever finco 7* the Reformation. State j^mt,l?Mrl. p. ji. ' Little other DifcipUne is regarded, except as * to the wearing of Habits, Capping Mailers and * Fellows, with I know not what Fooleries befides. ' Nor can you ealily perceive the fenfelefs Pride ' and Don ^iixotifm oiOxford^ where nothing is * fo common in their Mouths, than that they can * at any time turn the Nation as they pleafe, and that ' therefore no King dares difoblige them. />. 7 3 . ' When Barbarifm and Ignorance, Turbulency ' and Sedition are baniih'd out of that delicious ' Spot. — p. 74. What a Figure muft the Nobility and Gen-- try of England bear in the Eyes of Chriften- doniy when the UniverJitieSj which had the forming of their Educations^ are reprefented reeking with fuch ^Debaucheries about them, as would be almoft a Scandal to fix upon the pub^ lick Brothels ? What Indignities, Worfliipfiil Sir, are here thrown upon your own Charader, who, I prefume, finifh'd your Studies in one of thefe renowned Bodies ? What a Reproach ta our Nation and to our Laws will it be, when a Foreigner has Authority \w plain Englijh to re- late abroad, that Whoredom and "DrunkennefsTf VicCy and the moft execrable Villainies are maintained in Great Britain by publick Sala- ries, by the Donation of Kings, and the Bene- faftion 33^ 7^(? Danger ^/ /^^ fadion of Bifliops? That Profcffors of Atheijm and Trofanenefs 2x:c fupportcd hy Stipends and Exhibitions^ and our Youth trained up in a State of Terjiiry and Licentioufnefsy on pur- pole to qualify them to taint the Morals of the People, and ipread the curfed Lifedion over the whole Kingdom ) The Defign of the Trot eft ant TDiJJenterSy in branding thcfe magnificent Foundations with fuch reproachful Charafters, proceeds undoubt- edly from that Averfion they conftantly pro- fcfs againft human Learning 5 and to skreen from the Cenfures of the World their own ftinking Academies^ that openly bid T>e fiance to our Laws, and whofe loofe and fantring *Difcipline much more juftly deferves fuch Ignominious Defcriptions. * *■ I have only one * Thing more to add, and by way ofRequeft * to you, great Men-, you who are Perfons of * Honour, Power, and Intereft in the Govern- < ment5 and I hope Will fliew to what great * and good Purpofes you are fo; and it is, * That you would employ the utmoft of this * yout Tower and Intereft both with the King * and Parliament, to fupprefs, utterly to fup- < prefs and extinguifh thofe private, blind, * conventicling Schools or Acadamies of Gram- < mar and Philofophy, fet up and taught fecret- * ly by Fanaticks, here and there all the * Kingdom over. A Pradice, which I will *- undertake to prove, looks with at more — - , . _ II limiM^I^M'" T ' * Ijr, South Mponthe EdH^nP'iQn o/Xonth. p. 44. * threatning Church-EfiabliPrmeyit^ &c. ^i^j thrcatniitg Afpcclupon the Government, thaa any one Fanatical or Ivepublican Encroach- ment made upon it befides. For this is the dired and' certain Way to bring up, and per- petuate a Race of mortal Enemies both to Church and State. To derive, propagate,' and immoitalize the Principles 2\\(^. Practices of Forty 0?ie to Pofterity, is Schifm and Se- dition for ever, Faclion and Rebellion in Sacula fecnlornm 5 which I am furc no ho- neft EngUfJj Heart will ever lay Amen to, Wc have, I own, Laws againft: Conventicles 5 but believe it, it would be but Labour in vain to go about to fupprefs them, while thcfc Nurferies of Difobediencc are fuffcr'd to continue. For thofe lirll and early Avcr- fions to the Government, which thele ihall infute into the Minds of Children, will be too ftrong for the cleareft After-Convidions which can pafs upon them when they arc Men. So that what thefe under-ground Workers have once planted a Brier^ let no Governor think, that by all the Arts of Cle- mency and Condefcenfion, or any other Cul- tivation whatfoever, he fliall be able to change into a Rofc. Our Anceftors, to their great Honour, rid the Nation of IVohes, and- it were well, if (notwithftanding their Sheeps Cloathing) the Church could be rid of them too 5 but that neither will, nor can ever be, fo long as they fliall be fuffer'd to breed up their Litters amongft us. Good God ! Can all Hiftorv flicw us anv Church or State fincc Z ' the 338 The Danger of the the Creation, that has been able to fettle or fupport it felf by fuch Methods > I can, I thank God (looking both Him and my Con- fcience in the Face) folemnly and ferioufly affirm, that I abhor every thing like Cruelty to Mens Perfons, as much as any Man breath- ing does, or can 5 but for all that, the Go- vernment muft not be ruin'd, not private Inter c6:s fervid to the Detriment of the Tui^- Ikky though upon the moft plaufible Pre- tences whatfoever. And therefore it will certainly concern the whole Nobility, Gen- try, and all the fober Commonalty of the Nation, for the fake of God, their Prince, their Country, and their own dear Pofterity, to lay this important Matter to Heart. For unlefs thefe lurking fubterraneous Nefts of Difloyalty and Schifm be utterly broken up and difmantled, all that the Power and Wit of Man can do to fecure the Government againft that Faftion which once deftroy'd it, will fignify juft nothing. It will be but as the pumping of a leaky Veffel, which will be fure to fink for all that, when the devour- ing Element is ftill foaking, and working in an hundred undifcern'd HoleSj while it is cajl out only at one. CHAP. Church-Eft abrtpoment J 8cc. 339 CHAP. VI. Reflexions npon the Difciplinc, Clergy, and Laity of the Church of Ena;laiid : Extrach'd 'oi'holly from Air. PcirccV Vindication of the ^ijfenters. * rTp H E Church of England has (b furfeitcd mc X ' with Impofitious, that I am utterly averfe * to them. Preface. ' This confirms mc in my Perfuafion, That the * Diffenting Caufe ihall triumph over the Malice ' of its Enemies ; that it ihall be ov/n'd and ap- ' plauded, when human Inventions in the Woriliip ^ of God iTiall be utterly abolifh'd. Preface. ' The King may ordain, ifhepleafe, or appoint ' whom he will, Prefhyters or Lay-men^ to per- ' form that Office, and can, when he has a Mind, ' refume that Power, which he delegated to any of ' them, p, 8. ^ The Papifts have triumphed over the Church ' o^ England^ and I think juflly. ^.13. * The Precepts of the P bar [fees and our Gentle- ' men of the Hierarchy, are both built upon the ' dime Foundation, and defervc equal Refpeft and * Obedience. — We have fcen Drunkards, V/hore- ^ mongers, profane Swearers and Curfers (v;ho, in ' Imitation of the Je^ivs^ ha\-e been continually ' crying. The Churchy The Church) ^ondXy c^tHthy ' the Gentlemen of the Hierarchy, p. 17. ' Trifling Impcrtincncies are the chief things * about which the Government of the Church of * £//^/(^;;^ is concerned. />. 32. ' The Canons of i6oj denounce a gi*eat many Z 2, ' Excom- <3 4P . j fTb. pi. ' Convocations arc not.fciiK:h to be regarded. p. 154. , ' Our Advcrflirics. arc moll reftlcfs in their E^n- * dcavou'i^ to obtrude their Hierarchy and Cei'emo- ' nies ; they arc nc\Tr fatisfy'd while they cannot by :'^Jforce or Fraud engage others to reitore thoic ' Remnants of Popery which they have rctain'd ' themfehTs. />. \66. ' If wcmay judgeof the Canons by the Pra6licc *''-of the Church, they were never deiign'd againft * gamiiig, drinking Aiiniilers, but againft fuch as ' woLild be hardy enough to dif}^ite their Power -* and Authority. ^. 174. ■ ' The Qergy us'd to regard their ownlntcrcft ^ more than the Merits of any Caufe. j?. i8f. '.. Jt* Tf HE Ceremonies of the Church of England -^xo, ' dear, at the Price of one fingle Half-peny. p. z 1 1 . -'■^ '' ' ^ It is notorious, all manner of Wickednefs (the ■^ \yorft Herefy) which w;ts much difcourag'd and ^ ' fupprefs'd in the Interregnum^ came in like a Flood •^ together with the ///Vr<^rr/:y/. p. 11 p. ' Th e Billiops, however rugged they have:flie w n ^ themfelvcs to the DifTenters, yet they can be as ^ ^tamc and pliable as mav be to a Court, when they '^ h'aveanyEndstofervcbyit. p. 227. t:rJ )C .j^jj worth while to fliew the bafe Arts, wherq- *'■ 'by our Adverfiries procur'd that inhuman Aci (tlic ^ Act' of Uniforniitvy to be pals'd in Parhament. V ;■*•'• A'RCniiisMOP Sheldon and "Si^ob^Ward were ^^ eager 'Sticklers fbr-the Aeb of L^A'//(?m//]',- with all ' its notorious CrndtyandWickedilefs:-]^. zjp: .^;f-*''NoR- 1-^ I fee :myReaion''i('hrariabfolutcLi- '* -ftert'V in Ma'tters'^'f l^ehgion {holild^imbcgrafltcti ^ toaligoodSubjeay %7Jfzl''^^^^^y^-'^^-^<^-'^ "■ Church-Eft ahltjhment^ ^8cc. 5 4 1 ' ^ No Terms of Union arc c\'cr to be expected ' from a Convocation, p. zyi^. ' Let the whole Chrillian World judge^ whc- ^ ther the moderate iuid peaceable Cliurchmen ' lliould not altei* their Meafurcs, fodliking the ' Communion of Schiliiiaticks (the Church oi Etig- ' land) and come over to us. p. i/f . ' Our Clcrg\-men frequently appear fo little ' Friend.s to the "trading Part ot the Nation, that ^ (thev can hardly fpcaiv of them without Contempt. p. Z77. ' Irithadbeenfaid, what is pretended, thatvciy ^ niinv of the Leaders of the Church, have httle elfe ' to diiiinguilli them from Heathens, or to perlUadc ' a Belief of their Chriftianity, but an empty Name, ' and a blind Zeal for what they call the Church j ^ there are a verv great many Clergvmen, who take * care to make the Words good : There have been ^ manv Heathens v/ho would have blufh'd at the ' Loofenefs, Dcbaucheiy, and Per jury witli.whicli ' the whole Nation is fcnfiblethey are chargeable! p. 180. ' ^ If our Clergy did not gape affo6ior of the Presbyterians in this Kin2:doni : He is a Man of Letters, can make Lati?: EpiftleSy and has his Name prefixed to a large Book in that Anti- chriftiun Language : He is the Champion of the Caufe, enters the Lifts confidentljy and " what- ChHrch-Rfiahltfkmeyit^ Sec. ^^^ whatever he offers to the PubHck, is rcceiv'd OS the general Sentiments of the whole Party. And here, admit mc to obferxx, that t'his Vindication of the "Dijfeuters^ from whence I have drawn out this Academy of Compliment s^ is dedicated in a very grave Manner to the Miniflers of Scotland \ equally great therefore, I fear, will be the Crime of this TDiifenting Leader, for defaming the Eftablifhment and the Clergy of England in fuch black Colours, and offering them as a ^Prefent to the Church of Scotla-ad, with mine, for refleding iipon the Scots Eflallifhment, and prefcnting it to the People of England. What his Views were, by throwing fo much Dirt upon the Englijh Eflabliflomenty are beft known to his own Bread ; but if it fliould be my Misfortune to be charg'd with Sedition-, for traducing, the EftabUfhment of Scotland^, an Incendian^ of the fame Rank in my Opinion, is That T>if- fenter, who has exposed t\\z Eftablijhment of England \i\ as reproachful a Manner, for it would be inexcufable to fuppofe that the Eng- lip Eflablifhiiient is not as eilcntial to the Uni- on of the two Kingdoms, as x}i\2X.oi Scotland-^ or that the Security of one Eflabli foment is not at lead as facred in the Eyes of the Govern- ment as the Repofeof the other. But the Infolence of this Scparatifl ad- vances much farther in this Treatife 5 he not only pubhflies his Book by feverallmpreffions in the Metropolis of this Kingdo7n^ in Oppofi- Z 4 tion 344 ^^^ Danger of the tion to the j^refent Eftablijhment of the Churcli, but dircds it to the whole Body of the reform d Religio'fi abroad, with a Defign eternally to ftig- matize the Conftittition and the Clergy ^ and to make them look fcandalous forever in the Eyes of all the refornld Churches. I fliall not trouble you, \Vor|liipful Sir, by drawing the Parallel any farther, between the Writings of this Gentleman and my own; tho* I pretume it is impofuble that my Re- flcdions upon the Church of Scotland^ printed at a great Diftance, and perhaps unread by nnv one Perfon in the whole Kin2;dom, can be pf {(y fatal Importance to that Eflablipmenty as t\\z Chara^ers of this Author, that have born feveral Imprefiions, herCy within our own Bowels, are dedicated to the Clergy of Scotlandy 2xii. dire^led to the Divines of all the reform* d Churches^ muft i3e allowed to be, to the Security and Honour of the Church of England, This, Sir, I offer as my own private Opi- nion, which 1 Ihall be ready, upon all Occa^ fions, to facrince to the much wifer Determi- 'nation of my Superiors, CHAP, Church'Ejlablif^orri^nt^ Sec, 34^ CHAP. vir. Refecfions upon the Royal Vm^cnkois of H/s prcfcnt Majcfty : TiiblijJod Jince his Acccfr fion to the Throne. ^ r"jpl H E following Sheets may fcrvc as a Look- 1 ' ing-Glafs, v/hcrcin may be fcen thcHy- ' pocrify, Inconilancy, andPcrhdiournclsof King '^ James I. Charksxkxz Ift. and lid. and James the ' lid. Preface to the Reader of the Fourtraiclure of King Janics the Ift, and King Charles the Ift. Prin" ted I-:'! J, ' King Ja?nes the Ift.vras begot bv the Pope of ^ Romej on the Body of the Church of i?^^//^?-, and * if the Church of Po^ne be a Spiritual or Ecclc*- ' fialHcal Whore, and ilie is his Mother, I'll lay ' no more, but, Ergo. p. f. ' Put King 7^?;; r. in a Sack, and * iTiakc them well, and then you'll fee whether is f the greater Papiil, or the greater p. 14. ' Haying open'd this Natural and Spiritual ' Mongrel King James the Ift. and feen his Papifti- f cal Heart and Popilh Intrails, 1 think, for a whilc^ i' to lay him afide \ but at prefent being weary witli ' raking in fuch Rubbilli, I will now, for my Rc^ 5 freihment, difTeCt: the Son, whereby you will fee 5 he is a. Chip of the old Block, and no Baftard^ ' but Dad's n'own Child, p. zi. ^ King Charles the I Id, after his Father's Death, f fled into Holland^ France^ Sec. where ftill, under f the Education of his Mother, he was nurs'd up 5 in the Roman Religion : He ftaid twelve Years y with her, aPapift ftill 5 at his Return he wa^a ' Papift, 34^ The Danger of the ' Papifl, and fo continu'd under a Protcflant Mask ' 'till he dy'd. His whole Reign he employ'd for ' the Dellruclion of his Proteftant Subjects, f. 35*. ' King Charles the 111. if he dy'd a Martyr, it f was in the Caufe of Popery, for he efpous'dno ^ other Religion. />. 38. ' It has been, and Hill is, aMatterof Aftoniili- ^ ment to me, to fee Men fo iadly bewitched about ^ the Death of King Charles the III. in canonizing * him for a Martyr. /^. 39. ' I protell I have turn'd over all manner of Texts * relating to the Caufes of Sufferings oa Death by * the Martyrs, but not under one of 'em can I find "^ C, R. fo that I am afraid he is cither no Martyr, ' or has loft his Title-Ticket. The Scripture, in * this Cafe, cannot be read for his Benefit without ^ an cxtraordinaiy Pair of Spe61:acles, the getting ^ of which I defpair of p, 40, 41. ^ He dy'd as a Criminal who had committed ' High-Treafon, and other high Crimes againfr the ' known and fundamental Laws of the Kingdom,- * to which he was fubjeft as well as any of hisSub- ' jects : Now to canonize the King for a Martyr, * who fuffer'd Death by the Laws of the Land, ' (he being Uable to the Lafh and Penalty of the ' lumc, as well as others) I cannot unfold. />. 4f . ' The Chai'ge accufes him, and he cannot ac- ^ quit himfelf thereof > and fince he could not ac- * quit himfelf, the Court condemns him as guilty * of the Charge, p. 46. * I wonder how it came about that his Name * v/as infeited in the Calendar, having no Example * or Authority for it, unlefs it was by the Means ' of his Father, the Pope. Example there is none, ' for lie is the fi.rll King canoniz'd •;ss, a P^/Iartyr for * fuffering as a Criminal s and Authority there is ' not any. Now, Gentlemen, endeavour after a ' hearty Repentance for the Idolatry you have been ' ' guilty Church-Ejlablijhmerity &c. 347 * guilty of, to blot him out of the Calendar of your * Hearts, and out of your common Calendar, for ' you find he has nothing to do to fit there, p. ' In that thoughtlels wanton Reign o\ King * Charles the lid. \vhen the Wealth and Strength ' of the Nation was draining off asfliftas pofliblc, ' to fupport the Extravagancies of a debauch'd ' Court. y!u Erfv.al Capacity in the Snbjctls of Great-Britain /c/r Civil Einployrde fits. p. 2.3. ' The Thirtieth of January is little more than ' the Shibboleth o^c/VmY-^ the Word of Battle, a ' Subject foryoimg Declaimers to whet their Wits ' upoii, and i\n Opportunity (may I not fay) to ^ mock God, and to rail on their Fellow-SubjccLS? ' On all thde Accounts, I fay, 'tis our Opinion, ^ the Nation would fuffcr nothing, if t]i:it pretended ' Fail were no more heard of. GroveV Scr?iion on the fthofNov. p. 2p. * In bar to the Tiventy-ninth of Afzy, v/ehave ' thisto obferve, that if it faw the Rellaurationof ^ a King (whofe perfonal Character I meddle not ' with,) it faw Vice and Profancnefs reftor'dwith ' him. ibid. ' The Family of the Stuarts always begun their ' Reign with Perfecution in fomc Degree or other, ' either in Aces of Uniformity, or A6ls to prevent ' Occafional Conformity > k) that long berore this * time they had promised themfelves that the Nation ' vvould neither have Law nor Gofpel, but as the ' Court Vn'-os pleas'd to give them, Bradbury V Ser- mon^ Nov. f . p. z6. ' I never could fee Reafon to thin!; the Sin of ^ the Thirtieth of January was n National one, ' that iTiould oblige us to fill; yearly lo long a time ' after it. ]?dxct's Sermon on the 30//) (^/J-muaiy, the Preface, * Every 34^ Th^ Da:ngj:r of the ^ * Every one oix}[iQ, Stuarts cither favoured,, pi* ^ profeis'd, or promoted Popery, the late incom- ' parable Quccu Mary excepted. State-uinatomy^ Part I. /. f . ' King Jarms I. of his Subje6ls had rraall Care ; * our Honour was ahiiolr annihilated by tlie luxu- ^ rious limtring Deportment o'^ Charles 11. p. 60. Whether it can be for the Honour of a Prince todcfccnd from the Line of fuch inglo- rious AnceftorSj or wiicther it advances the Dignity of the ^roteftant Sncce£Jon^ to have the Royal Fountains of the Family difcharge fo corrupted a Stream oiToperyy Tyranny y and Le\JodnefSy I leave to you, Sir, who are die niccfl: Judge of Honour y to pronounce : But, forgive me one Remark upon the hifolenqe of thefe Republican Incendiaries y wlip liayc the Front to diftinguifli thofc Crimes. by the Names of hmocence and Ju[iicey that ftand condemned by our Law5 for Murder and Rebel- lioHy and impudently think, by afpcrfing the Royal Race oi ovw: Trot ejiant Monarch Sy they make their Court to the Trince upon the Throne; when the whole Kingdom, upon the Anniverfary of his AcceJJiony are commanded to. magnify the divine Goodnefs for fixing his prefent Majefty itpon the Throne of his Anc^f- tors. Chirch-Ejlahl'tfl.meyn^ &: c. 3 4 $> CHAP. VIII. Sow^ General Remarks upon the foregoing Re- * liccLions: IVith a Spec'rmen ^/^ r/^^ Lord Bi- fliop of Bangor' J late Treatment of the ■ Church of England. I ^ H U S, Worfhipful Sir, I have brought to a Conclufion a SpcGimcn of thcRc- flcdions that the Troteftant T>ijfenters have thought fit to ^x upon the Eftabiiflimcnt and the Clergy of the Church oi England \ which, J affitre you, fc«.* me, had been eternally for- gotten, if I thought I could do jufticc to my owai Character, without making the Difcovery : 1 prefunie, by this time, there wants no Evi- dence to fupport whatever Defigns I charg'il upon theie Separating Brethren-, in my Weekly Writings *i and that I was too fuftly alarm'd with Apprehenfions of approaching Danger, when 1 obfeiT'd how indefatigably thcfc De- fperatc Infinuat ions: were inftill'd into the P^- fnlace, and how greedily they were receivVt M^ho could fit lazy and lamenting, when Chriftianity in all its Principles was infulted, viliti)''d and buffoon'd, its Orders and Ordi- nances cxpos'd, and the whole Body of the Englijh Clergy loaded with fuch enormous Villainies as would make a Mahometan xizrvi- h\0, hi -the Name of God, Sir, what muft honefl ^^ijfenting Caufe, muft* certainly give a Spirit and a Shelter to thofe profane Libel- lersy who grow hardened in their Scandal, un- der the Protedion of fo great Examples ,• and imagine themfelves fafe in their Villainy, when they meet with Encouragements that not only applaud, but give a ^Skw^/V^^totheir hcentious Principles. I could, Church-Ejlabltfhmenty $cc. 3 j i I could, if it were confiftcnt with the Li- mits of my Dcfign, prefent you with a large Coliedioii of the Opinions of thefe Latittidi- narinnQa\x}iCxv\Qx\ who neftle themfelves, and grow fat by the Revenues of the Church, and yet with the moft fandify'd Ingratitude, are infinitely more fevere in their Invedives upon her than the moft foul'motitJod T)ijfenter^ or the ^^nldeft Libertine; but I fpare you the Fa- tigue of looking over ^//the unnatural Inftances of Barbarity y by which thefe gracelefs Sons have fo flagrantly diftinguifli'd themfelves: I entreat your Patience, only to caft an Eye upon fome few of thofe refpedfiil Char alters that a vzTj extraordinary Tr elate has lately taken up- on him to bcftow upon the Church of England y as well to difcover to youthey/^/r<:/;2of fome of the above-mention d Reflexions, as to juftify the Notice I have taken of the Principles of this Trot eft ant Biftoop in the Courfe of my late Writings. The Sentiments of the Lord Bifhop of Bangor, upon the Eftablifhment and the Difcipline of the Church of England. ' T Muft prefume to declare it as my Judgment, X, ' that an Eftablifljment without Liberty, (and ' fuch was the genuine Eikblifhmcnt of the Church ^ of England) tho' at firll an Eftahltjhmcnt of a Me- ^ thod of /^;yZ>//?, Government and Difcipline NQX^ ' good and blamelefs in itfelf, yet would procure ^ and at laft end vajufi fuch a Peace^ Stupidity^ * and Lethargy^ as is not ov\^ feen h\Xifelt in too ' many 3 51 Tbe Danger of the ^ miiny other Countries : They that will may tiiU it ii BlcJJJng^ iind magnify the Indolence and Ea(e that arc cnjoy'd under it > and they may appeal tQ Spa'm^ to Italy ^ to Sweden^ as Teilimonies to it ; But others who look to the llllie of Things, and have call up the whole of the Account, and have obferN'Vi liow effcctaally it has depopulated Na- tions, and laid waftc flourilliing Countries, and dc- llroy'dthe very Vitals of Chil Society^ have not doubted to eilccm and call a De-vafiation by Goths and Fandah^ the greater Blefiing of the tv.'o. Nay, this Latter has fomctimes prov'd a Bleiling, when it has rous'd up the Spirit oi a dead People^ and left behind it excellent Models of Government. But the Former, the niorc fccirre and the more liudijhirb'd \t is, the more ignominious iind the more defperate is the Condition of thole, w ho are chain'' d wtA fettefd in it. It is a De-vaflcition that confumes iuiilence without Mercy and without End. Anfwer to the Con-v. Reprefcnt. p. zdS. ' Alas! this proceeds from our poor worldly Notions of Ordcr^ .Decency^ Rnk^ Suh ordination^ Superiority and Inferiority^ as dilagreeable general- ly to the Will and Deiign of God and of Chrill:, as the World itfelf, from wdiich they are all taken. And when x\\q. Fancy of Men has indulged itfelf up- on this Head, it is found to be infinite, without Bounds and without End. In fome Places, for Inlfance, if all Chrillians do not fay Prayers at the lame particular Minute, whenever that Warning is given them, w^hatevcr their Employment or Diipofition at tirat time be j if all do not faft and ablbun from Flcfli, .atthe/^;;?^^ time of the Year, and upon the fame Days of the Week ^ if fome Congregations of Chrilfians commemorate the Nati^jity or Refurrcoiion ot Chrilf, or the Mar- tyrdom or good Actions of any Saint ^ on a Day different from others-^ or if dome Chrillians kneel ' when Church- EfiabltP^merity &c. 353 ^ when others ftand^ or ft and when others kneel ^ ^ or are fo iveak to fcruple any thing, that others ' of a /r^;?^^r Make, can fwallow and digcft with- ' ' out FeeUng : All this, in all the infinite Variety ' of it, is caird and judg'd as an heinous and unpar- ' donable Breach of the Order of Chrift's Church. p. 182. ' It is pl^n, that Chrill guards againft no exter- ^ nal Confufton^ which is the Effect of the Integrity, ' Honefly, and Sincerity of his Subjcds. p. i8p. ' They who fo frequently appeal totheDirec- * tion of St. Paul^ concerning Decency and Order ' in the Ajfemhlies of Chriftians^ to argue for Sub- ' miflion to eveiy thing order' d by frail Men for the ' Decency and Beauty^ or outward Pomp of Circum- ' fiances relating to the Manner or Form of wor- ' fhiping God, and this in fuch a Manner as not to ' leave it to their own Judgments and their own ' Confciences, may be fure that they both forget the ' Points to which he apply'dhis Rule, andgrofly ' err both from the Defign and the Spirit of the ' Apoftle. /?. ipi. In thefe few Paragraphs may be feen at one View, the Sentiments of an Englijh Bijhop up- on an EJlabliJhment, which he has bound him- felf by all the Tics o? Honour and of Confcience to defend 5 not but that he has interfpers'd the fame Tenets among the reft of his worthy La- hours with which he has lately fo fatigu'd the Publick ; But here you have the ^tinteffence of his Principles drawn out in a very narrow Compafs, and may at once exprefs your Indig- nation at the Confequenccs that naturally arife from fuch inflaming TioBrines. I prefume. Sir, you now forgive mc the Metliods I have A a made 3/4 ^^ Danger of the made ufe of, to cenfure the dangerous ToJiUons of this Overfeer of our Churchy and would pardon much more fever e Rebukes than I have apply'd to confute or to chajiife his Opinions. The Conclusion. IHave no longer, Worfhipfiil Sir, a Defiro to employ your Patience upon this Occa-' fion, but while I congratulate the good For- tune of the Tresbytery ofScotland^ whole Ho- nour, I perceive, has been held facred'^wA. in- violable by fomc Gentlemen of the Englijh Communion^ when at the fame time, the very Vitals of that Church wherein they exped to he favedy lay breathlefs and expiring: How^ ever, I am far from defpairing to be a living Evidence, when the ^fFair^ of Religion in this Kingdom fliall appear to fonie Perfons in ^ jufier Light ; and when it (hall be equally criminal (modeftly fpeaking) to iilfult an Efia-^ ment on this fide the Tweed as on the other : But for fear of giving Offence, I forbear in- dulging my felf in the comfortable Profpefts I have of the Stability of the Church of Eng- land \ who, in my Opinion, is daily acquiring frefli Vigour under the Adminiftration of the frefent 'Powers, and will foon be in a State, wherein flie will be as able to defpife^ as flie will be always i^zAf to forgive-, the Outrages of her Enemies. lani Church^EftahTtfhment^ See. 3 5 j I am afraid, that whatever Afologies I may offer, I Ihall never be able to foften the Rc- ioitments of fomc, whofe Bigottry to the ^ref- byterian T>ifcipline will accept of no Atone- ment for the Charafters I have given of the Scots Eftablijhment i nor will it avail me any thing to fay, that I was led into thofe* Reflec- tions by the Information of * Hiftories that fpeak of the Conftitution of that Churchy and the Condud of her Teachers \ fince they may deny me the Authority of my Hiftorians, and re* quire of me a Method of Evidence, wherein the "Difiance of Place makes it impofliblc for me to acquit my felf. But as I am refolv'd, up- on a Review, never to juftify any unchriftian Bitternefs of Expreffion I may be guilty of, fo, I ingenuoufly own, that the NorthernKirk had beai, for me, for ever undifturb'd, if fhe had kept her Solemn League and Covenant within the Bounds of her own Jurifdiftion, and not oflfer d to infed the prefent Eftahlifhment of England with the Poifon of it. Whatever the Dcfign may be, it is moft certain, that the Scots Covenant has been publickly and indefatigably * Ssotch Prejhyterian Eloquence. Cffmmnn'ion Speeches. Ru- therford*; Letters. Accou/it of the prej'ent Perfecur'wn of the Church in Scotland. Account of the late Ejlablijljment »f Prejhyterian Governfn^nt. A Sermon at the Opening of the Synod f/Lothain. Bifhop Bramhall'^ IVarTtingto the Churc)? of England.' An AH of Uniformity, ;nacie at jhe Syriffd of Perth. The Charter of Prepytery, 6cc. A a 2 difpcrs'd 3 5 (J The Danger of the difpers'd of late all England over, and every Year there has been a Demand for new Im- frejjions. Upon what Foot the Security of the Church of England depends, upon this Account, I leave to the Reafon of the unbtafs'd World to judge ; efpecially when it is obferv d, that the ^tjfenttng Mintftry fubfcribe to this Holy Co- *uenant whenth.cy zn^ordaind'^ and, if I can be-. li.eve my Hiftories, it is made a Condition of Baptifm in the Church of Scotland ^ which obliges eyery Parent at this Day, to engage that he will bring up his Child in the Doftrines of it I fliall be fo bold as to borrow a Paragraph or two, and let the unprejudiced Part of Man^ kind make the Application. ^ T7[rE;5 £5?^- "^'ith our Hands lifted up to the V V ' iT^oll high God, do fwear. That w^ ' jfhall fincerely, really and conflantly, through the ' Grace of God, endeavour, in our feveral Places ' and Callings, the Prefervation of the Reformed Re- ^ ligion in the Church of Scotland^ in Doftrine, Wor- * ihip, Difcipline and Government, againft our ^ common Enemies : The Reformation of Religion ? in the Kingdoms of England ^nd Ireland^ in Doc- > trine, Worihip, Difcipline, and Government, ^ according to the Word of God, and the Example ^ of the bell Reformed Churches j and fliall endea- ^ vour to bring the Churches of God in the three ^ Kingdoms to the neareft Conjunftion, and Uniform ? mit^ in Religion^ ConfeiEon of Faith, Form of ' Churchy Church-Rfiahl'tjhment^ &c, 357 ' Church-Governmeiit, Diredory for Worlliip, * and Catechizing : That we, and our Pollerity ' after us, may, as Brethren, li\^e in Faith and Love, * and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midil * of us. ' That we fhall in like m.anner, without Rcfpect * of Pcrfons, endeavour the Extirpation oi" Popery, ' Prelacy^ (that is, Church-GovernmciU by yfr^r/j- ' bijbops^ Bifiops^ their Chancellors and Cummijfci" ^ ries^ Dedns^ Deans and Chapters^ Archdeacons^ ' and all other Ec cleft aft ical Officers depending on ' that Hierarchy) Superilition, Herefy^ Schifen^ Pro- ' fanenefs^ and whatfoever iliall be found contrary ' to jcund Do^rine and the Powder of Godlinefs ^ lelt * we partake in other Mens Sins, and thereby be in ' Danger to receive of their Plagues, and that the * Lord may be Onc^ and his Name One^ in the ' three Kingdoyns. Upon the wholes ihc^Caufe, in whofe De- fence I have offer' d my felf to the Pablick, I truftinGod, willnevermakeme^T^^;/^^^ and I am perfeftly fatisfy'd in my own Breaft, that I never defign'd the Advancement of this glori- ous Cattfe, but by the ftrideft Rules of Loyalty and Religion : If 1 have been fo. unfortunate as by a Quicknefs of Zeal, or by the Urgency of Provocations, to bring my felf within the Com- pafs of the Laws, I lament the Hajliiiefs of my Temper, and hope, from the good Nature of Englipmen, that * an involuntary and un- defigrid Injury ^-juill be eajily forgiven. I * In Defence of any Doftrines or Pofitions * againft Objeftions, every Writer in the World, * B^. o/Bang. Anf. tc the Conv. p. lip. | The Prefaa^ A a 5 ' always 3 J 8 The Danger of ihe^ Sec. * always claims the common Right of interptet- ^ ing his oijiyn Sentences or ExpreJJlons 5 and * we find all Men conftantly complainings * when they imagine themfelves not to be treat- * ed even with Equity and Allowance in the In- * terpretations of their own Words. I hope * therefore a Right of a lejfer Nature-, which ' may be claimed 'mjlri5l Juflice-, will not be ' deny 'd to me ; the Right of knowing my own * Principles y zxAmyownT)eJigns^ better than ^ any one elfe. I am, SIRy Tour moji humble Servant^ Tho. Lewis. THE ANATOMY O F T H E Heretical Synod O F DISSENTERS AT SALTERS'HALL, Wherein is Reprefented, I. The Moderation and Chriftian Temper of an Ajjemhly oi Divines, II. The Gravity and Candor of their Debates. III. The Language and Civility they ufe in Re- ligious Controverfy. IV. The Reverence they profefs for the Divinity o£ Cbriftj for Creeds^ Canons^ 6cc. Colleaed from their late BLASPHEMOUS Writings for the Information of Pofterity ; With fliort Remarks. In a Letter to a Country Friend, r . L O NT> O N: Printed for Char,lps Rivincton, 1710- THE ANATOMY O F T H E Heretical Synod A T SALT ers-hall: Sir, OU are alarmM, I perceive, in the- Country, at the prefent Difputes a- mong our Dijfenters concerning the Do6brine of the 'Trinity j and you de- fire me to infomi you of the State of the Cafe, and of the Method of their Proceedings upon that Subjeft : A difficult Tafk you muil be- lieve, when very few of the Parties contending (if we judge by their own Accounts) know more of the ControveHy, than what qualifies them to bring a Scandal upon the Chriftian Religion, to curfe and confound all who think differently from themfelves, to xmvii\iQTrade and Reputation of their Fellow- Labourers, 342 The Ai^ATOM^ of the Labourers, in Conventicling^ and to draw away the Grifl of their Neighbours to their own Mills. The Original of this Difpute is laid at the Doior 9f Mr. Peirce of Exeter^ the great Champion of the DifTenting Caufe, and a mighty Nimrod inGon- troverfy 5 who is charg'd with * ujing great Vio- lence and Artifice in carrying on his Attempts againft the ever hlejfed Trinity, and making a very ftrange Progrefs in perverting the Youth of that City. He tpoiild not, it fpems, make a fetisfadory Defence tp this Chai-ge, which induc'd the Proprietors of his Conventicle^ with the AHiIlance of fbme neigh- bouring M>///?^r^, wJioafted in the Nature of /^i- fitor.s^ to turn him out : And accordingly Mr. Pierce is ejected with the utmoft Scorn and Indignation of the beft Pai't of his Hearers, and turViCi adrift. The Manner o£his Eje5lment 'he has publifh'd to the World in his Cafe > a few Paragraphs whereof I Ihall tranfcribe, and offer youfomefliorti^^/j^^ri^j upon them. '' ^ I ^as above five Years ago chofenbythe^hree ^ Congregations, Nemine contradicente ^ whofe ' Choice was feconded by the Deflre of the whole ' AfTembly that jneets here > and I was brought ' * from amoft7ai;/«g People, who made me ^.hand- ^ fome Allowance. And who has been more violent than Mr. Peirce to reflecb upon the Church-Clergy for removing iropi one Benefice to another, to load them with Covetmifnefs and the Love of Riches ? As if it were fpiritual Adultery^ and a Violation of the conjugal '^^ between , a Paftor and his Flock, to leave his • Charge for the moll valuable Promotion upon Earth. Lttterof the GentUme?t nt Exon. Hear Heretical Synod at Salters-Hall. ^6% Hear him railing, '^ If the Clergy did not gape after great Honours^ and fat Benefices, they would rather employ themfelves in perfuading our Rulers to reftore Peace^ than in reviling Brethren^ and wre fling the Words of ancient and modern Authors to put the bet* ter Colour upon their Caufe > hut what will not tht love of Money do ? What indeed ? And yet this Primitive J Self-denying Teacher could leave a very loving People, who made him a handfome Allow- ance, to come to Exeter to » a more loving People ^ that is, who made him an Allowance much more loandfome j for thefe Paftoi-s always value the Lov9 of their People by the Weight of their Contribu- tions. This Declaration of Mr. Peirce lets us fairly into the whole Myftery of Conrjenti clings and proves, that thcBodyof our JD/j^/^/frjare only a ^Q\y crafty People to a great many fimple^ fome to contrive and lead, and others to execute. Their Caufe is upheld by nothing but Boldnefs and Ignorance^ and driven on by no other Intereft, and defended by no other Weapons, than popular Zeal in the Body, and fomething worfe in the Heads of the Party. The People are not fo mad of themfelves as to run upon a Precipice, but they are urg'd on by their Teachers j and what they call the Conference of their Congregation, is no more than the Trade of their Leaders, whofe Bufinefs it is to fpirit away Peo- ple from the Church, to fill their own Pockets ^ where, inllead of found and profitable Doftrines, they are fed and fool'd with Wind and lUufion. ' It was put to me, whether I own'd, that the ' Son of God was one God with the Father ; I urg'd ^ them not to be hafty, I defir'd I might have Time * Vmd. of tht Vijf, Part II. /. 2. to 564 The Anatomy of the ' to give my Anfwer,' but was told, I muft do it ^ prerently. Here an Inquijition was astmlyfet up ^ as ever there was any in Portugal or Spain. This poor ejedled Gentleman forgets what an Inquifition his Fore-fathers fet up, when they in* troduc'd their own Difcipline upon the Ruins of the Eflahliflfd Church , when no Clergyman could keep his Living without the Hazard of his Soul, and many Thoufand regular Divines were ejeEled without hearing, and reduc'dtobeg, becaufe they would not covenant 'y and yet thefe are become the mighty Champions of Chriftian Freedom ! Was there ever fo reproachful a Slavery as the fervile Condition of the Englijb Nation, under thofe < hypocritical Sticklers for Liberty ? When the Tal- mud found better Quarters than the Liturgy, and the Doftrine of the Alcoran was treated with more Reverence than that of the Gofpel ? Was ever Ty- ranny fo barbarous as what thefe People exercis'd over the Confciences of their Fellow-Subjects? I would the whole Nation might but once dream of fuch a Whipping, as when thefe Reverences got the Law into their own Hands, their Bounty would beftow upon them j they would ufe no other Ter- ror to their Children, than the Prefbyterians are. coming. Were't not a bleiTed Reformation, to have aPr^/^j^/^rfhakinghis Rod over CYOxy Parip, and to have a whole Nation turning up their J'ails to a Pack of Pedants? What did thefe Pretenders then for the Good of the Church, but ihare the Booty, and exercife a Power themfelves ten thou- fand times more 'Turkijh, than even they call'd that they had abohfh'd ? In fhort, the young Lady of Geneva is every jot as tyrannical as her Mother the old Whore of Babylon j as dogmatical in her Sentences, as cruel and inexorable in her Execu- tions, as infallible and unaccountable in her Claims, and Heretical Synod at Salters-Mall. 3 6$ 3.nd as imperial in her Decrees : She values a King no more than a Cohkr upon a Stall -y and Creeds^ Canons^ and Councils^ are no more in the Hands of an AJf^mbly of Divines^ than an Egg-fhcll in a Storm upon the Bay of B if cay. ' I then own'd that Chrift and the Father were one^ becaufe he faid fo > they ask'd if I would own they were one God-y I anlwer'd, if they would turn to the T^ext where 'twas faid fo, I would own it, but I would fubfcribe no Religious Tefts at all that were not exprefs'd in Scripture IVords, This Declaration has a very taking Sound with the common People, who mufl be dealt with as we do with Children 'y if you fhew them the Mixturc and the Compofition of a Pill^ they will keck^ but you mufl: make it gay and golden if you would have them fwallow it. Under the Umbrage of the ^z- hie Mr. Peirce lyes fnug, and hatches Herefy out of the Words of Scripture it felf ; and by this Means he fohhs the Oracles of Hell upon his Au- /dience, infl:ea.d of the Doflrrine of Chrift and his Apoftles^ and 'Texts his Congregation with Chapter and Verfe^ into the Ways of Defl:nicbion: He baits his T'raps with the Parings of Scripture, and the Fragments of Religion, and ufes the Word of God as Men do their 1'ohacco^ he r^^'Zi;^ it without the Grace of Digeftion^ and fpits it out again. I have often wonder'd to hear with what Ve- neration thefe Men will fpeak of the Holy Scrips tures^ and obfei^ve how conftantly they retreat to them, as the only indifferent Judges and Arbiters of all Controverhes in Religion ; how zcaloufly they ply the People with the great Duty of y^^rri;- ing the Scriptures > and yet all the World cannot peifuade them to believe or hear thofe Scriptures, fho' fpcaking never fo dircftly agaiiiil their own Opinions, $66 The Anatomy of the Opinions. The Words of Scripture, it feems, are the only Rule of human A6tions5 we muil not eat^ Jleep^ or move without a l^ext for it. Upon this ridiculous AiTertion, the Myfteries of the Chrif- tian Faith arc undermin'd, when yet the Pra6bice of all Chrifiian Churches hitherto extant, makes againfl; them. Has not millaken or perverted Scripture been the Foundation of all Herefy in the Chrifiian Church ? Councils may err, they fay, and may not. Prefhyterians? How comes tliis Party to be more infallible than their Neighbours ? They tell us, they will be trfd by the ^ord of God^ not confidering how that again is to be trfd by them> fo that in thellTue their own private Inter- jfretation of the Scriptures muft pafs for a Law. This Principle of Mr. P forfet Mens Confciences at Liberty once to think what they pleafes, their Hands will not long be reftrain'd from executing thofe thinkings : Never was a general Freedom deT manded, but for a particular Delign \ nor was it ever granted, but the next Proportion was Equa- lity. The next Step from Liberty of Confcience^ is Liberty of Eftate^ and from a Liberty of Thought they proceed to Abion : A Freedom from Impo* fitions extends to any thing Men will call Confcience^ and then what Crimes mall not pafs for Virtues^ when every Malefador is his own Judge ? ' I am reviPd as an Jrian^ tho' I difown the ^ ^^^/^/i^r Opinions o£ Arius. That is, he is an Eufehian^ a Follower of Eufe- hius^ Bifhop of Nicomedia^ who was fo far from being eminent for any good Qualities, that he was a very Prodigy of Vice and Wickednefs. When Conflantine embrac'd Chriftianity, he came into the Church, not for Religion^ but for Preferment -y and he invaded that fo greedily, as not to flick at the moft fcandalous Violation of the Canons : Nei- ther was he fo much a Bijhop as a Courtier^ infi- nuating iiimfelf into the Favour of great Men^ and fawning upon the Emperor himfelf j by which Me- thod3 he got Power and Opportunity of doing fb much Mifchief in the Chrifiian Church : He de- ny'd the Confubftantiality of the Son^ and byCon- fequence put him upon the fame Foot of common created Beings j and fo great a Friend was he of Arius^ that contrary to all the Laws of the Churchy he receiv'd him into Communion^ after he was ex- communicated^ and prote<5ted him againft the Cen- fure of his own Metropolitan. The reft of Mr. Peirce^ Oafe is only a fad Com- plaint againft the Proprietors of his Conventicle^ for Herttkal Synod at 5alters-HaII. 3 69 for turning him out without the It-xH Notice -, im- plying that he ought to have had Warning or IVages^ and laying a heavy Doom upon any one who fhall appear in his Pulpit before he was juftly difpoflefs^d of it j Jind to humour the Farce*^ the Printer has clap'd a pretty De^cice at the End, of a Boy between a Pair of Kettle-Drums^ beating up to Arms. The Dijfenting Miniflers in London^ you may behcve, were foon acquainted with this Riot at Exeter^ and left they fhould give Occafion to the 'Enemies of the Lord (that is, to the Church of Eng- land) to blafpheme j they fummon an Affemhly of Di'vines to heal this Breach that was Hkely to bring •fo foul a Scandal upon the Difjenting Name. The Synod was composed of the DiJJenters of three De- nominations^ Prefl^yterians^ Indcpendeyits^ ^nd Ana- haptijis^ who met at Salter s-Hall j and after they had fought the Lord by Prayer and Meditation^ it was carry'd by a Majority for Mr. Peirce^ That the Bible only in the Letter thereof was to be made the Standard of Faith^ and that all Religious l^efis "were to be exprefs^d in the 'very Words of Scripture -y and fo the Trinity in Unity ^ and the three Chriftian Creeds were voted away. It muft be confefs'd, there was a pretty ftrong Oppofition made by Mr. Bradbury^ and fome others, that were for a Declaration of Faith to be fuhfcrib'd by the whole Dijfenting Miniftry^ in the Words of the Firfi Article of the Church of England^ and the Fifth and Sixth Anfwers in the AJfemblfs Catechifm > but this Scheme was hifs'd out of the Synod^ and reject- ed with the greatefl: Scorn. However, one would think that an Affembly of Prefhyters could meet and debate without that Heat and Intemperance of Expreffion^ which they are fo apt to charge upon the Church-Clergy^ that they behav'd in their Difputes with the moft Chriftian B b 'Temper^ ^70 Ti}e AnAtOMY of the Temper^ and mutual Amity ^ avoiding every thing •immoderate and riidc^ and declaring their Opinions with the moft condefcending Modefiy and Refpeft. The World has been obhg'd with . two Accounts of the Proceedings of this AJembly j The firft, fuppos'd to be written by Dr. Gale^ in Defence of Mr. Peirce and his Efpoufers ; which is anfwer'd by Mr. Bradbury^ (who has an inimitable Way of ap- plying Scripture) in Behalf of himfelf and thofe who fuhfcrib'd with him to the Doctrine of the 'J'rinit%, Tlieir own JVords^ I prefume, are the moll candid Way of reprefenting the Caie, which are as follow. Dr. G. ' I need not obfeiTC how natural it is to ^ cxpe6t JVarmth^ Heat^ and a Behaviour that de-* * ferves ixjorfe Appellations from fuch a Convention ' of Clergy y but fuch Indecencies of Zeal and ' tVarmth^ ferve only to expofe the A6i:ors to Ri- ' dicule or Compaffion, fuch Conduft is not to be ^ reflected upon without Concern. An Account of the late Proceedings, p. f . Mr. B. ' You will be amaz'd how many Lies * are croudedin this one Paragraph, as if the Man ^ had all ^^/^ at Defiance. An Anfwer to the Reproaches, p. i.i. Dr. G. ' Their Zeal^ Pride^ or Impatience in ^ Contradidiion^ threw all our Regards into Neg- * hBc^ and with a very indecent Haughtinefs did •*• Mr. i?r.^^/5'^/rj^ in particular demand, Whether the *^ AiTembly was to be dire&ed by the Laity ? With "^ the fame ungovern'd PaJJion did another alfo aft, ^ Whether they came there to be contradi6led by ' Anahaptifi 'Teachers ? And that Perfon was fe- ^ conded by an equal Ebullition of Wrath and In- ^ decency .f but they were retorted upon with a juft f^ Refentment^ by one who was affeded by .the in- ^ 'vidious Biftinhion. After a great deal of Bujile^ * Heat J Jnve^ivey and overbearing Treatment, tlie * Queftioii Heretical S.jnod (ft Salters-Hall. ^yt Quefiion .was with great Difficulty put and car- ry'd againil unfcriptural Impofitions, which Fote was to be made a Part of thole ArticLes of Achke they were met. to agree to. Mr. ,5. '. /-/^ yun as uncertainly^ ive 'walk in Darknefi^ and difquiet ourfelves in "vain^ heaping up x-idvices, and cannot tell njubo Jloould gather them, • 13- Dr. (?. > The Affirmatives went, out of all P^ tie nee and Decency^ and their forward. I^eader, Mr. iradhury^ thought fit in his great Mode ft y^ to call them the Scandalous Majority : The other, as far as could be permitted for Clamour and Con-^ tradiSlion^ went on in Form upon other Matters, which by M'^r anglings were drawn out into a needleis Length. ■ p. 1 1 . Mr. ^/ ' This Author has a goodly Way of telling a Story : In fome Writers, a Lie muft be dilated, and *tis as much as a Man can do to work it off in two or three Pages j but here's ^ Mafter of his "jtrade^ who has a concifer Way of doing it, and given us Sen) en large ones in the Space of Fourteen Lines > what a vaft Number' would, he afford to fell in the Streets for the fmall Price of a Half-peny ? p. 1 3 . Dr. G. 5 I purpofely omit mentioning anyPer- fons by Name^. unlefs the Sprightly^ the Facetious^ aiid the Orthodox Mr. Bradbury : A Peifon of Mr. Bradbury's FoVwardnefs for Diftin6tion , might perhaps be piqu'd at, being loft in a Crowd, and hip'd in not being remarkable, tho' to his own Shame, p. 12,. Mr B. ' If the Accufation is true, I fhall de- ferve to be CalPd that 1;//^, foolifl:)^ inconfiftent Creature which Pm reprefented to be by thofe Advocates for Peace^ and Forbearance^ and mu- tual Charity : But inftead of being receiv'dwith a "Temper owing to a Matter of this Importance, B b a, * I was 3 7 i The Anatomy of the * I was interrupted by an ungodly Sneer, p. i6^ ^o-. Dr. G. ' The moil wonderful Circumftance of this Affair is, that Mr. Bradbury too fhould be amongft the Prophets^ and become a New Reve- lation- Maker 'y there fcems to be no manner of Connexion between a flaming Loyalty^ and the Calenture of Orthodoxy^ halloiDingiox King George in the Streets, and voting for Sla'very within Dooi*s y the Huzza's of a Moh^ and the Decrees of a Synod 'y the Mirth of a Song^ and the Seve- rity of a Greedy and yetfoit is, this merry S one* teer is become a mo{\:Ortbodox Father j who can account for it ? There was indeed fome Affinity between being a facetious Companion^ and a 'Z£7/V/j Preacher^ between the Levity 6f a 7^/, and whipt Cream Divinity^ and it may be accounted for how the Laugh of Converfation fhould /;^f?/^ over aj igain, and trifle pleafantly in a Pulpit. Hoy/ agreeably pretty was an Expreflion of this Gen- tleman concerning the Athanaftan Greedy that it was a ^wirl of JVords fitter for a Chymifi than a Chriftian. Who at that Time could have thought it, that he himfelf fhould fet up for a I'wirlfter^ and pra6lice the Chymifi upon his Neighbours, who had been fo unfufferably 'k;//- ty againft Impofture ? I defire your Excufe for this Levity, the Mirth of the Subjeft is catch-- ing-y and there is no fpeaking of Mr. Bradbury in any other Turn. p. 37. Mr. B. ^ In this AfTembly I was hifs'd^ the fii-ft Inftance, I believe^ and the laft, I hope, of fuch a Rudene{s. I have Reafon to think there was a Run to be made upon my Reputation } The Cue was given, fome Stories were contriv'd, unguarded Expreffions aggravated, Perfons went about as fFhifperers to Separate me from very Friends 'y thumping Lie s^ ana perverted Fa^svfcve improved to rakke me odious j and all this, I tnifl:, ^ without Heretical Synod at Salters-Hall. 375 ' without any other Provocation, than the Zeal I *• have fhewn for the Do6h-incs of the Gofpcl : He 'is rcfolv'd to throw all forts o't Dirt^ on purpofe ' that a little may flick -, but I would advife him * not to talk too much of the Bottle^ for every ' one who was in the Aflembly will be apt enough ' to apply the Infinuation, not to me^ but to ano^ ' ^h^r- P- 3I5 3^5 33- Mr. ^r^^^^ry has another Antagonift, who calls his Treatife tke Synod: He has anfwer'd it with the iiime Chrifkian Temper and Condefcenfion. Thefe Authors have difcover'd a flrange Vein of CompHments, a Specimen whereof I fhall tran- feribe in their own PFords^ to inftruft thofe No- vices in Controvcify, who are unacquainted with the Addrefs that is required in Polemic Writings, particularly when the Articles of the Chrifiian Faith are in Difpute. SYNOD. ' I am as much aftonifh'd at the odd ^ Behaviour of a very great Pait of the Gentlemen ^ of the Aflembly at Salters-Hall^ as I am pleas'd at ^ the generous Management of the other Party. />. 6. Mr. B. ' Thofe Minitlers whom you admire ' for their generous Management, did openly call < you a Rafcal and a Villain. Anfujer to the Re- p-oaches. p. f . ' SYNOD. ' Hove to be free in my Faith, p. f. Mr. B. ' But you are not free of it J for if your ' Faith runs in the common Stream, youmuflbe- ' lieve your felf to be a Coxcomb, f). y. SYNOD. ' Several of the Church Clergy are * bufy to pick up Inve61:ivcs againfh a truly Rei-c- ^ rend Prelate^ the Bifnop of Bangor, p. 7. Mr. B. ' What has my Lord of Bangor done to * defcrve the Flatteries of a ftupid Athetfi .'^ . p. f • SYNOD. ^ Tho. Bradbury ^-xs not appointed t6 B b 5 ' draw 374. r>&^ ANAtoiviV (?/^^S^''*^'^^^ * draw up an Addrefs^ the Aflembly was making, to ' a certain great Lunar Emperor, p. ii. Mr. ^. ' You write this with a Contempt of ^ our Glorious Redeemer^ whom you reprcfent as ^ only fit to govern a World in the Moon: When ' Blafphemers defpife us, 'tis a Sign we have done ' fomething to put the Devil out of Humour. You ' are a i^t*^, fit for nothing but to hark at the Moon. p. (5. Surely fuch a Bear-Garden Synod was never heard of! I think my fclf bound to give the De- bates of thefe Reverend Divines all pollible Advan^ tage, and therefore I fhall colle6t the moft beauti- fill and edifying Part of their Speeches, and prefent them at one View. We may tlien very reafona^ bly fupppfe Doctor Gale to begin thus. "TOM. ' Thou art a warm, hot, fiery, ridicu- ' lous Zealot J I pity theey thou art proud, im- ' patient of Contradiction, indecent, haughty, and ^ of an ungovern'd Pafiion J thou boileft over with ' Wrath, out of Patience and Decency > and yet * thou art a Sprightly, Facetious, Orthodox Fel- ' low, aSoneteer, a midnight Companion, a Lover ^ of the Bottle, an Huzzaer at Bonfires, a Zealot ' for King George^ a Twirlftcr, and a Chymift j ^ you froth up your Sermons in the Pulpit, and ^ make your Sermons no more than whipt Cream. Mr. Bradbury replies 5 « QALE^ You amaze me with your Lies, you ^ have Seven of them in fourteen Lines > you are ' an ungodly fneering Fellow, a thumping Liar, < and I am no more a Tippler than your lelf s in « ibort, you are a Dog, a itupid Atheift, a Cox- < comb, aRafcal, and a Villain. ' And to wind up the Conference, Mr. Bradbury wtxy Chrifiianly tx- poflulates > Heretical Synod at SAtcis-WAL 375 poflulates> W^hat a Scandal is brought upon the whole Name of Dijfenters ? That we jhould he the only Society of Minijlers who are incapable of meet- ing without Indecencies that never before were heard off p. 35. You arc no Stranger, Sir, I am confident, to an old Obfen-ation that has been made upon our Englifh SeBarifts^ That they are the true Spawn of the Donatifts^ thofe ftiff turbulent Schifmaticks in the Primitive Church, whom no Indulgence could oblige, and nothing but the fhid Execu- tion of Penal Laws was iible to fupprefs ; and in no Inftance that I can think of, have they prov'd their Legitimacy, more than by fiding with our modern Arians at this Jun6turej as Donatus and his Party did with thofe old Hereticks againft the Catholick Chriftians y for to this End he wrote a Trad:, De Spirit u San5lo^ agreeable to the Arian DoElrinc'y and others of the Fadrion join'd with the Afacedonian Hereticks, and blotted out of their Bibles thefe W ords of St. John j God is a Spirit. But what was the IfTue ? They at length fall out among themfelves, divide and fub-divide, make Decrees^ and throw out Anathema's againil each other 5 ^nd what is moft of all diiingenuous, they ftir up the Civil Magilbate to put the fame Impe- rial Laws that were made againft themfelves, in Execution againft their Brethren 3 and what but the other Day was T'yramiy and Perfecution in the Catholicks, is in themifelves Law and Juftice : And fo they go on, loading one another with all the foul Stories^ and ill Language they us'd to beftow upon the Catholicks 3 and their Sentences of Ex- communication are more fierce and heavy, than any that were ever denounc'd by any other Party of Chriftians. Thus they proceed curfing and damn- ■/;i!^each other, 'tille\''cry Sed fpawn'd a new Lit- B b 4 tcr S7<5 The K^AroMY of the ' ter of Vipers to eat out its own Bowels, and (o they crumbled on, 'till they had made the Church no bigger than it was at firft, a [mall Grain of M^ft<^^^i-fied^ for every Party confin'd the King- dom of Heaven to its own Conventicle. Here you have an Epitome of the Controver- fy now depending among the Dijfenters 5 for what thofe vjild Scbifmaticks a&d above thirteen hun^ dred Years fince, has been fo exactly copy'd by the Moderns^ that had they been the very fame Men, they could not have behav'd more like themfclves. The 't'wins that were fo like, that their own Mo- ther could not diftinguifh them, were not morefo than thefe two Schifms^ tho' born at fo great a Piftance of Time and Place. P Imitator es^ fervum Pecus I ut mihi pepe Bilem^ fepe Jocum vejiri mover e tumultus ! And now, Sir, I am come to the mofc melan-' .choly Part of my Letter 5 what has hitherto pafs'd, lias been no more than i^^rr^, but what follows, I aflure you, is deep 'Tragedy^ fo fhocking and full of Horror, that I tremble at the repeating of it > but I am oblig'd to follow them through all their Kennels^ more particularly for the falce of our com- mon Saviour in this^ where I fhall difplay fuch a Scene of Blafphemy and Profaneriefs^ as was never before publickly own'd by the moft profligate and abandoned Hereticks of the Chriftian Church. It is ftill my Rule to produce their o'^jon Words to fupport whatever Charge I have againft them, and I ihaUlookno farther than into two or three Pam- fhlets that have been publifh'd by Dijffe titers them- fclves, fince the ftarting of this Ccntroverfy, who have efpous'd and juflify'd the Conduct of the Ma- jority at Salter s-Hall^ near fixty London Preachers^ that refys'd to fubfcribe the Podriae pf the 7r/- nity^ Heretical Synod at Salters-Hall. 377 ftity ; and no queftion they have recciv'd the Thanks of the faid Majority^ as exprcfling the Sentiments and Opinions of the 'whole Body of them. ^ I hate a Prifon for my Body, and Creeds foF ' my Mind. {Synod, p. f.) I aminform'd that the ' Synod at Salters-Hall come thither with an In- ' tent to fettle a Correfpondence with the CJonvo^ ' cation of Divines in the Moon^ there being in ^ that Orb, a Collection of nil the Souls of the ' deceas'd Creed-Makers^ who have at various ' Times infefted the Chriftian Church y and for ' the Benefit of Aftronomers^ I inform them, that ' the Spot they find in the Moon^ and imagine to ' be fome Bottomlefs Pit, is only a fort of a Con- ^ "-^o cation Houfe. p. p. ^ They are come there to fettle a Correfpon- ^ dence with this Reverend Aficmbly, in order to / be furnilh'd from thence with a Supply of what ' Creeds^ Articles^ or C^/^^Z;//5;^5 the Churches may ' at any time lland in need of, to promote UnU ' forpihy J but upon the Emperor of Great-Bri^ ' tain's Acceflion to the Throne of that Iftand^ * thofe Commodities go not off fo well as before. '■p. 10. * What need you trouble your felves what your ' Minifters Notions are ? If, for Inftance, his Wor^ > fliip is dire(51:ed /o the /^^^/57(?r, //:?; V the Son, hyt\i(t ' Holy Ghoft, w^hat Occafion can you have to ' ftick at joining with any Part of it ? 'Tis eafy ' to obfei-vc, that the Prayers of Proteftants do ^ generally run in this Strain. J. Letter to a Dif- ^ [enter in Exeter, p. 6. ' Nor can I yet tell howtofatisfy myfelf to be ^ prefent at the reading of a certain Greedy which ' I cannot belie've (becaufe I can't under ft and it) ' and that too when 'tis read as the Belief of all ^ prefent 3 and 'tis expected I Ihould teltify my AHcnt 37S The Anatomy of the ' Allent by ftanding. But DiJJenters are at liberty ' to order their Worfliip at Difcretion^ and havd ' at this time a ^^' G/:?^^ ^ are 77:7r^^ difiinfl Beings ^ that the Lord Chrifi ' was the C/:7/V/ of all fit b ordinate Power j that the ' C/';^//^' of the Godhead was only in the Father j ' difputing away every Perfection of the Lord Je- * fus Chrift^ and likewife queftioning the Deity * of the Holy Ghoft^ is, among other l^hings, tel- ' hng us, that it was never yet prov'd that Jefus ' Chrift had a human Soul^ but that the Logos or ' /Fori may well be fuppos'd to fupply the Place * of a human Soul-y and that it was not neceflary to ' Faith or Salvation to believe the true Senfe of ' the Scripture. Thefe horrible Pamphlets were ' induftrioujly fpread by the New Party j feveral * of whom declared, the Holy Ghojlw^ not God zt ' all : And one of them in particular (aid. That if ' was no Sin to fay that Jefus Chrift is a Creature : (An Account of the Reafons of withdrawing from the Miniflry of Mr. Peirce.) p. 7. ^ It had long been the Cuftom of our Congre- ' gations, at the Clofe of the Pfalm or Hymn^ to ' give Glory to the Father^ Son^ and Holy Ghoft^ * as One God : About this Time Mr. Peirce dire6ts ' the Clerk what Pfalms he fhould iing, and gives. * politive Orders that they fing there without Ad- ^ ditions > which when complain'd of to Mr. Peirce^ * what he offered was to this Purpofe, As if this ' Doxologyws^ not Scripture. And while he him- ' felf forbore to give Glory to the Holy Ghoft^ he ' tax'd another Minifter for doing it. (Mr. Peirce dcchfdfoY the Subordination of the Son.) p. 8, p. What the Chriftian Religion has to fear from the Propagation of fuch Do^rineSj is too obvious to be long inlifted upon 3 and there is no Man that has the 3S2 T^i? Anatomy of the the leaft Jealoufy for the Honour of his Sayiour^ whofe Ears mull not tingle^ and his Blood tJmll in his Veins^ to find fuch Principles efpous'd and puhlickly debated 'y when the X^iylyes open againO; thefe Hereticks^ and it is in the Power of Jujiice to lay hold of them. They have put themfelves out of the Prote^ion of the Indulgence- Aci.^ which obliges them to fubfcribe to the Do6h*ine of the ItRIN ITT^ and therefore their Conventicles are no. more, in my Opinion, than an AJfembly of Rioters^ which any Conjlabk has iVuthority enough to dif- perfe. And now I appeal to any Man, who knows upon what fober Grounds and Principles the Church of j^NGL AND Hands, and how its Do brines and Forms are not only countenanc'd by the beft and pureil Times of Chriftianity, but eitablilli'd by the fundamental Laws of the Land^ whether he can fo perfedly chai'm and llupify his Paffions, as not to be chafed into fbme Heat and Brifknefs upon fuch Occafions ! When he ferioufly confiders, that 'this Churchy fo rightly conilituted, and foduly au- thorised, fhoLild be fo favagcly worij'd by a wild . Fanatick Rabble j that this Church (o foberly mo- dePd, fo warrantably reform'd, and fo handiomely ■fettled, fliould be fo perpetually beleaguer'd, and not yet out of all Danger of being rifled, if not iittaiy demoliih'd by Herefy and Ignorance > that the pubhck Peace and Settlement of a Nation fliould be fo wofully difcompos'd by a Sett of \ftiff Enthufiajls^ and fo lamentably embroil'd by . the Pride and Infolence of a Glan o^ peeviJJj^ igno^ rant^ and haughty Zealots -.^ And lallly, that thele Brain- fick People, if not prevented by fome fpeedy and effe61:ual Remedy, may in a little Time grow to that Powef and Confidence^ as not eafily to be fup- prcfs'd : Let the Reader confider all this as throughly _ s^id feariouily as I have done, and be a Stoick if he can. But Heretical Syno4 at Salters-Hall. 385 But bdides tliis, let iany Man that is acquainted with the Wifdom and Sobriety of true Religion^ itW me how 'tis poluble not to be provok'd to Scorn and Indignation^ againll fuch proud, igno-^ ^nt, and fupcrcihous Hypocrites, who, tho' they •Utterly defeat all the main Defigns of Rehgion, And llab it to the very Hearty yet boaft thcmlelves 'its only Friends and Patrons ; fignalizc their Party by diftinguiiliing Titles and Characters of Go^//»^^, find brand all others howfoevcr Pious and Peaceable, •with bad Names, and worfe Sufpicions ? Who, I fay, that loves and adores the Spirit of true Reli- gion, can forbear to > be fharp and fevere to fuch thick and fulfome Abufes ? For whilll Folly and //)'•" f verify appear under the Fizor of Holinefs^ it makes that feem as ridiculous as it felf Now, to lath thefe morofe and infolcnt Herer •tUks with fniart Satyr, is fo far fi-om being a cri- minal Paffion, that 'tis a Zeal oiMeeknefs ixACha* rity^ and a Profecution of the grand and diffufivc Duty of Human^t'y^ which obliges us to maintain •the common Love and Amity of Mankind. And tho' good Manners oblige us to treat all other Sorts of People with gentle and civil Language, yet when we have to do with froud and ^//r^^/to/ Spirits, wc -muft point our Reproof with fiarp Inve&ives, we mull: difcover them to themfelves, to humble them j ■we muft lance their 'Tumour^ and take out the Core -of their proud FlefJo^ before we can cure them. Ano- dynes and fofter Medicines make no ImprelTion upon them j foft and tender Words do but tempt their Difdain^ and footh up their Vanity > they think you flatter and fawn upon them when you fpeak them/^/r j your Civility they will interpret RefpeEt^ and a forc'd Efteem and Approbation of their Prin- ciples. And to think to argue a Sett of rude and boiftrous Libertines out of their Folly, meerly by the Strength of calm and fober Reafon, is as likely a Mat*- 5^4 The Anatomy of the a Matter as to endeavour by fair Words to perfuade the Northern Wind into a IVeftern Point. If yott will ever filence them, you muftbe as vehement as they, nothing but Z^^/ can encounter Zeal-y and he that will oppofe a Fanatick^ muft do it with his Eagernefs, tho' not his Malice > Clamour and Con- fidence make ftrongcr Impreflions upon the com- mon People, than Strength of Reafon > and the Rabble ever runs to that Party that raifes the biggeft JSfoife : And therefore lince wc of the Church of ENGLAND are not fo ill bred as to oppofe Cla- mour to Clamour, we muft fupply our want of Noife and T'hroat^ by Sharpnefs and Severity y and tho' there is but httle Ground to hope that the keeneft Reafons fhould be able to pierce their thick and inveterate Prejudices, yet however, the {harper Edge they have, the deeper they will ftick in the Minds ot them whofe Concern and Intereft it is to correct and punijh them 'y for I am not fo vain as to defign or expe6fc their own Convitlion^ as good attempt the Removal of Mountains. What I propos'd, was to reprefent thefe Hereticks in their own Colours, to awaken Au- thority to beware of its worft and moft dangerous Enemies, and to force them to that Modefty and Or- thodoxy by Severity of Laws^ to which all the Strength of Reafon iii the World can never per- iuade them. I am pretty fure what Reception this Letter will meet with among the Party y for if any Man impu- dently belies Religion, and I expofe him for it, it is but telling me I r^/V, and I ^x^anfwefd, I am^ SIR, T^our moft Htimhle Servant, T. L, FINIS. THE INDEX. BSOLUTELIES and Properlies. Page 15-4. Ablolution /;? the Common Prayer not to he repeated by the common People. 18. Aft of Uniformity 'very fe^oere againfi fuchas preach or [peak againft the Common Prayer, It. Addrefs. ^ Fanatical Addrefs. 61. Advertifement concerning the Bijljop ^/Bangor. 14 j Archbifhop WhitgiftV Speech to ^een Elizabeth. Archdeacon, his Office. 178. Afh-Wednefday, nothing of Popery in it. 47. .AiTembly of Di'vines ap-prov'dof the Murder of King Charles I. p. Atheifm encoura^d by the Divifton of Protefiants. 200. B Bangor the Bifhop opposed to Mr. Hoadley . i i^.guil' ty of Perjury^ Apofiacy^ (^C, J 33. oppofes the C c Canonsj The INDEX. Canons^ Jrticles^ and Kubrick of the Chunh «/ England. 1 34, £5?^. His way of arguing and pray* ing. IfO, If I. the Hiftory of his Battles and "Triumphs. 169,170. His Art of praying. z\6^ 217. His Treatment of the Church d/ England. Baptilm in the Roman Church defcrib'd. 44, 4f , 45. Bimop : His Character facred, 113. His Office ijf, BMphcmous Prayers. 102. Bhvphcmy of Dijentersi ^77^ (^c, Blerfings of the Bijhop or Priefi to be highly valWd. 21 . B\ood of the Martyrs^ the Seed of the Church. 107. Bowing at the Name of Jcfus enjoin' d by the loth Canon. 20. Not us d by the ^akers^ and why, if- Bradbuiy fubfcriFd to the Trinity. }6p. His Dia* logue with Dr. Gale. 570. and with the Author If of th^ Synod. 373 Calvin, a Geneva Rchel^ the Founder of the Pref- byterians. 36. His Cenfure of them. 88. Carlille, the BiJJjOp^ abul'dbytheDeanofV, If 2. Chantor (?/ Salifbury, his Character. i6p. Charles the Firfl^ his Murder a Prodigy, f , 5. His A5is of Grace abus'd. 8. Made a Glorious King, p. Murdefd by the Prefbyterians. 70. Compared to a Ship. ibid. Cheftcr : A Petition from the County Palatine of Cheilcr. ^z6. The Church to be protected by the Prince. 3 3 . Chui'ch of EnglandV Loyalty, p. Not Popijh. }8. The Popery of the Dijffenters. f o. Under the Care, of Proi'ldence. f3. TVilling to receive all true Pe* mtents. f4. Her Char aEler. 108. Situated he- tween two Extremes, no. Her Chara^er given by Dipnteri, The INDEX. Diffenters, J04. Her Canons^ Articles^ and D if- cipUne reflected upon. Ji6. &c. Church of England-men remifs in the Defence of the Church. 1. Are a niiynei'ous Party, pj. Clergy of the Church of England learned and loyal, T^-j. Champions of the Proteflant Caufe. i^. No fcandalous Order. 39. ne Faults of Particulars not to be chared on the Order, jt,. Their Bufinefs to Cry aloud, if 6. To fljew their Courage and Con- Jiancy. 2f 8. Obli^d to defend their o-wn Order. zs>f' Their Chara^er given them by DiJJenters, 30f. Coblers dabble in Divinity. 31. Commin faithful : A Story of him. ipf. Committee ; The Proceedings of a Fanatical Com' mittee. 63. Comprehenhon the Ruin of the Church, f 5. Its Character, lop. A monftrous Project, 166. A ftupifyingDofe. Zf^. Confcience tender, fo. Liberty of Confcience^ *what. 77. Notorioujly abus'd, 158. Not to be forced. 141. Confecration of Pr lefts in the Old Teftament and the New. fp. Conftantine his Imperial Letter to Alexander and Arius. If (5. Conventicle the Sink of the Church, if. The Of- ficers belonging to it. 113. Convocations not to be overborn by private Perfons, 143. RefleEledupon by Dijfenters. 32,1, &c. Correfpondents, their Favour gratefully acknow- ledg'd. 4. Covenant : The folemn League and Covenant ftill difpers'd. 3ff. The Form of it. jf<5. Councils i their Alethod of proceeding. 142. Countiymen eaftly deluded. 3 r . Creeds in the Coynmon Prayer to be [aid ft an ding. to. RidicuN by Dijfenters. 377. C c i Cro5 The INDEX. Crofs inBaptifm^ not Popery. 43. Curio (ity of going into /^. Conventicle not to he indid^d. 1(5. D Deacon -y bis Office. 178. Dioccfe 'y of 'uoloat Extent in tJoe primitive C/jurcb. Diicipline oftbe Cfourcb of England Primitive. 1 74. Difle'iter not to be feparated from bis Interefi. 1. Reads nothing againji bis own Party. 4. Is carry- ing on the old Caufe of Forty one. 37. Compliment^ ed the Papifls. fo. Stingy and poor fpirited. DilTenti ng I'eacbers impofe upon their Followers. 3, Diflinction of perfonal ayid political Capacity of Princes^ wicked and deviliflo. 8. Dominion founded in Grace, f i . Donatifts 3 their Principles revived by the Prefbyte- rians. 8 1 . T'heir PraSl ices followed by the Synod of DiJ/enters at S'Atcrs^HiiW. 373. Dunton John, one of the Bijhop of BangorV Seconds. 1(58, Eiaculations of FanaticJcs: 104, 105*. Emifl^iries of \LomQ find Entertainment among Dif- /enters in England. 71. The Form of their In- fir unions, ipp. Epifcopacy traducW as Popery. 37. Yj^^X\^\nQX\X. not to he altered. 8. to humour a Par- ty. 3 p. The King fworn to defend it. Z3i, 131, Tloe Character of the JLngMdi Efiablijhment, zfo. Exhortation in the Conunon Prayer not to he repeated by the People. 18. Extempore Prayer^ the Art and Myfieryof it. Sf, 8(5, ' Fana- The INDEX. F Fanaticifm the Mother of Atheifm. 49. Foreign Churches^ their Opinion of the Church of England. 8p. Forty one J the Principles of it encoura^d. 78. The Villainy of that Age to be eternally remembered, z6o. t Fox, George, T'he Founder of the Quakers. 117. His laft Will and Tejiament. 1 28, i ip, i 50, i 3 1 . King George's Progenitors refledfed upon. 34f. Greeting not us^d by the Quakers, and why. 2 Grocers retail Religion. 3 1 . 24. H Hat not puird off by the Quakers, and why. 24. Henry the Stlfs Treafure con fumed by his Sacrilege, 33- - , ■-- Herefys Pride the Foundation of it. 149. Horfes going to Church. 2p. Hypocrify3 Dijj enters guilty of it. 7^. January z/:?^ jo/Z?, a perpetual Monument of Dijfent- ing Hypocrify. 6. Jefuit and DtJJenter go Hand in Hand. 47. How made ufe of in the Bangorian Controverfy. i f 2, If 5. Refohes to ruin the Church of JBngland. IP4. Numbers of them in the rebel Army againfi King Charles I. T'he Chara^er of the Bifloop of BangorV Jefuit. 1^7. Inde- The INDEX. Independent cut off the Head of Charles Stuart. 7. Indulgence of Dijfenters^ a political AEi, p8. Innovations /b?«^;/if Sedition. 48. Intereir at the Bottom of the Separation. 1 64. Jury \ the Grand Jury mijiaken inprefenting th« Aa^ thor of the Scourge. ip4. K ^e King/ziyf^r^ to proteH the Church, fi. Is fafe , on the old Church the Meaning of the Word^ and to what villainous Purpofesus'd, z6z, &c. O Ordination ^j/ Prcfbyters, a thingof Tejferday. po. Organ •, the ufe of it and its Antiquity explained. 121, 122, 12^, 124. Pagans :t. The INDEX, Pagans may he true Proteftants. 1 6j. Papilh never write againft the Dijfcnters. 2:; 7 Parliament j an Engliih Parliament knows the 'value of the Church, 251. Patriarch j his Office. 177. St. PaulV Church fmide a Stable. 28, 29. Pcevifhnefs, a Principle among the Diffenters. \6^. Peircc'x Reflections upon the DifcipUnc^ ^i^^'g}\ ^f^d Laity of the Church of England. 539. T'he Founds er of the Arian Contro^verfy among the Diffenters, 362. Hatches Herefy out of Texts of Scripture, 56f . Is an Eufebian. 568. People ^/'England rude to their Clergy. I4f. Perlecution crfd out by Diffenters. 240. Father Peters obliged the Diffenters. f o. Places of Trufi to be in the Hands of Churchmen, f i . Popery, the Nurfery of Schifmaticks. \i. A U^ord of great Service to the DifJ enters. 236. rmying by the Spirit^ what. 82. Preaching j the Method of it among the Diffenters^ 14. 30. Prejudice J Diffenters guilty of it. 72. Prefbyterj his Office. 177. Prcfbyterians guilty of the Murder of Charles the Martyr. 6, 7. Prefbyterian Affembly^ their way of Worfl)ip. 13. A fighting People. 36. Dabble in the Government . 49. Never fatisffd. 96. Mufi he bribed into Loyalty. 97. Prefbyterian Teachers^ Spirtiual Mounteba?iks. la Guilty of Drunkennefs^ &Cc. 74. and Hypocrify. 79. Infe tithe Populace. 80. Their way 0^' ^^ raying, 83. Jiide in their Coache: . 209. Their popular Arts to enrich themfelves. 213, 214 Conipar'^d to Mountebanks, ill. Their Chara^er at large. 224. Pref- Tlie INDEX. Vrcihytcry tiemes the Supremacy of the King. p. Ne- ver to be fettled inYjUghnd. 40. Its Original jf, y4 do'wnright I'yranny. 210. Pride-, Difjhiting Teachers guilty of it. 72. Pricfthood > The CharaSfer of the Chrifiian Priefi^ hood. 144. Ahus'dhyitscwn Sons. 146. Primate > his Office. 177. Proteflant Difjhiters^ the Meaning of that Title. 1 6(5, 1 6j. A Word of great Service to the Dif- fenters. 237. Pfalms to be read and fung ftanding. ip. Puritans J their Cant and foul Language. 207. Their ■ JVay of Preaching and Praying. 2085 '^^9- Q. Quack Dolors and Prefbyterian Parfons alike, 222, 223. Quakers ere 61 Charity Schools. 22. Their Youth down lool€d.y hard favour^d^ and make Religion to confift in fpeaking,^ and in the Shape of their Clothes. 2 3 . Call People by their Names only., ' and why. 2f . Again fi fine Clothes.^ Pl^yh and Romances. 26, 27. R. Reflections of Diffenters upon the Church of Eng- land, the Clergy and Laity. 29^, &c. Reformation \ a JVord of great Service to the Dif- fenters. 239. Revenues of ^he Church not to be alienated. 33. ( S. Sacrament; how adminifier^d in Scotland, ijz. Sacrilege a damnable Sin. 33.. Salters- The INDEX. Saltcrs-Hall 5 a Synod held by the Dijfenters. ^6p, Schifrrij the Prefbyteriaiis ^/^///y of it, 56. and Rebellion T'win Sifters. 3 p. Prclbyterians tha fir ft Fathers of Schifm among Proteftants. 68. Schifm-^i^ 5 its Repeal will not fatisfy the Dijfen- ters. 91. Scotland 5 the Laity Prieft-ridden. 268. Scots Prayers. 103. Scots Clergy^ their fi^ay of Praying and Preaching. 16 s^, 170, 271. Scourge i the Deftgn of it. i, 3. Magaxine of Ar- - guments againft the DiJ/enters. 4. The Author writ out of a Principle of Confcience. 3^. Jeft- ed upon and threatned. 94. Expo fed to the Rage of the Scclarifts. i8p. Againft Per fecution.\^o. His Defign to defend the King. 230. Not wil- ling to fear ch into Perfonal Characters. 232. De- fends himfelf againft the Charge of Sedition. 288, &c. Ought to ha've Liberty of interpreting his own IVords. ^fj. Scdariftsj their Infolence. 1. A Neft of Hornets. 3f. Unable to manage Affairs of State ^ divided • among thcmfelves. f o. Not to be trufted with Government . f 3 . Angry with the Biftoop of Ban- gor. If 3. Shopkeepers turn Preachers. 3 1 . Sincerity the Meaning of it. 170, 171, 172. Smith, Sir John prefented the Scourge at the King's Bench Bar. 287. Souldicrs turn'd Preachers. 30. South 5 Dr. SouthV Character of Dif/entiHg Aca- demies. 336. Spirit j the Spirit not to be made a Pretence by Me- chanic ks. f7, f8. Suffr^g^m.Biftjops their Office, i-^f. - SurpUce 3 a Primitive Habit, p i . Teachers The INDEX. T. Teachers among Dijfenters ; their Way of Praying and Preaching, ij, 14, if. The Teft the Security of the Church of England. 48. Texts of Scripture not to he produced to jujiify Fil- lany. do. Thebean Legion-, their Hiftory, 181. Toleration not allowed by the Prefbyterians. zj. fViJh'd for by the Roman Catholicks. 68. Trade i Diffenters Trade among themfelves. 162, I(5J. Trinity J theDifputes about it among the Dijfenters. 361. Not fubfcrib'd to by Sixty Dijfenting Preachers, jjd. RidicuVd and Blafphem'd by Dijfenters^ 577. U. UniverCties to be Encouraged. 54, Their Cha" raSers given by the Dijfenters. }}i. Sec. W. Wars the EffeB of Schifm. 6s>, Whig and Tory their Characters . ipi. Words ; the Charm of them of great Service t& the Dijfenters, t^f. Y. You notfaid by the Quakers, and why. zf. ■^ -^ ' -M^^y^-^K }r ■"> 11 .1 .^ -.*«: